swindle: Cesar Marzetti

"Art may not be dead, but the authentic author is." -- Cesar Marzetti

Torn from the world's monthly art bible, Cesar Marzetti has stolen every image from the most recent issue of Art in America. From cover to cover, the Italian artist has copied and reprinted them all, then signed and made them his own, - but with a twist.

When Marzetti signs images taken from magazines, reproductions from other artists now mass-produced, he negates their original production. Marzetti's provocation not only unmasks the art market, it radically questions the very principle of art according to which the individual is considered the creator of the work of art. Marzetti's actions are not works of art but manifestations, a relentless destruction of the original object.

"The emptying of art began with DADA," Marzetti spoke by telephone. "And was reinvigorated with POP in the 60's, whose spirit continues today - that of formless meaning and meaningless forms, of visual indifference in favor of an idea. Most of these ideas are ordinary, thus transforming any art into the ordinary."

Much like a magician revealing all his magic, Marzetti's acts are an artist's betrayal, a revelation of art's negation to its past triumphs, of novelty in favor of the ordinary.

"Art may not be dead," Marzetti finished, "but the authentic author is."

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swindle: Cesar Marzetti
Art in America