2004
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In 2004, Alex Potts wrote an essay titled "Moment and Place: Art in the Arena of the Everyday" for the Dia Art Foundation's Max Neuhaus volume, published by Yale University Press in 2010.
Key Concepts of the Essay
Aesthetic Experience in the Everyday: Potts describes Neuhaus's work as an attempt to integrate an aesthetic experience into everyday life. The goal was to create a work that, although present in a public space, could be ignored or deeply perceived, depending on the passerby's attention.
Democratization of Art: The essay emphasizes how Neuhaus attempted to democratize the public's interaction with the work. His approach aimed to engage people in a heightened sensorial experience, without compromising the demands of consumerism and mass entertainment.
Spatial Perception: Potts notes that Neuhaus's work did not seek to radically transform the surrounding environment, but rather to alter the perception of space by those passing through it. The intent was to activate greater sensory awareness through sound.
Distinction from Interactivity: Potts clarifies that audience participation should not be confused with traditional interactivity, which Neuhaus opposed. Rather, it was an opportunity for people to voluntarily and consciously participate in a sensory experience.
Difficulties of Reproduction: The essay also explores the problem of reproducibility of Neuhaus's work, a common theme in phenomenological art. Because his works are based on sensory experience, they could not be adequately reproduced through mediums such as photography.
Editorial Context: Alex Potts's essay is included in the 2010 book, Max Neuhaus, edited by the Dia Art Foundation. The volume offers an overview of Neuhaus's work, including an interview with the artist and essays by several scholars.