Reversing Vandalism: a concept that is teaming with ironies concerning what we mean by
“Art.” I wrote four statements to accompany this piece and rejected them all as too
political. My feeling was that I wanted the viewer to see the piece without being burdened
or influenced by one political interpretation. The vandal destroyed 607 books. The vandal
is a human being. He is an outsider. Aren’t we all outsiders in some sense? The vandal
almost certainly thought he was making either a political statement or an aesthetic
statement of some kind. If I am reversing vandalism does that mean I should produce art
without politics or aesthetics? The vandal is banned from the Library so presumably he
will not see this exhibit, or this piece. His picture appears in my piece. So does mine.
They are right where you expect them to be. I thought for a long time about reversing them.
Wouldn't that be the point? Wouldn't that be the ultimate political statement? Imagine
they are reversed. Whatever you think the point is, imagine the reverse.
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