Walead Beshty
To Be Human Is to Be in Aesthetics - A Brief Practical Introduction to Aesthetics and the Function of Art
Course Detail
DescriptionThe work of London born Los Angeles-based artist Walead Beshty spans a range of media and methods (from photography to ceramics, canvas to kinetic sculpture). He has been exhibited and collected widely over the past two decades, while in tandem he has maintained active curatorial, teaching, and writing practices. In this course, Beshty will provide a general introduction to aesthetics from a practical perspective. Starting with the Greek origin of the term, participants with be given a broad view of the discipline spanning the vernacular, instrumental, and fine art forms, concluding with a discussion of contemporary artistic methodologies, and the socio-political effects of aesthetic practice, both its potentials and its limitations.Meet the PresenterWalead BeshtyWalead Beshty is an artist whose work delves into the complex nature of photography as a documentary form. His photographs, which he describes as “operating something like ruins,” have the ability to embody multiple narratives and seamlessly transition between them.
One of Beshty’s most notable bodies of work is his series of large-scale photograms. These photograms capture the essence of the medium, showcasing its unique ability to create images without the use of a camera. Through this technique, Beshty explores the boundaries of photography and challenges traditional notions of representation.
In addition to his photograms, Beshty has also gained recognition for his series featuring abandoned shopping malls in America. These photographs serve as a commentary on consumer culture and the transient nature of our society. By capturing these decaying spaces, Beshty invites viewers to reflect on the impermanence of our materialistic desires.
One of Beshty’s most intriguing projects is his “Travel Pictures” series, created in 2001. For this series, Beshty ventured into the recently defunct Iraqi Diplomatic Mission in Berlin and captured images that were later damaged in airport security’s X-ray scanners. The resulting photographs not only serve as relics of the site but also as a testament to Beshty’s personal travel experience. Through this series, Beshty explores the intersection of politics, travel, and the fragility of photographic documentation.
Since 2005, Beshty has been working on his “FedEx Sculptures,” a project that pushes the boundaries of the art-making process. In this ongoing series, Beshty ships shatterproof glass boxes to various destinations in standard FedEx containers. The final appearance of these sculptures is determined by the damage they accumulate during travel. By relinquishing control over the outcome, Beshty challenges the notion of authorship and highlights the unpredictable nature of the artistic process.
Beshty’s work has been exhibited at numerous museums and institutions around the world. His thought-provoking photographs have been showcased at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and the Tate Modern in London, among others. Through his exploration of photography as a documentary form, Beshty continues to challenge our understanding of the medium and its ability to convey multiple narratives.