WHAT'S THE POINT? (1998), BY BOB RANKIN
ACQUIRED FROM THE ARTIST, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, DECEMBER 1998
MIXED MEDIA (ACRYLIC, PENCIL, INK, GEL MEDIA, OILS) ON PAPER
















This is one of my favorite works. This particular work was (ironically, given the nature of the work) singled out for praise in a review of Bob's show at the Raleigh Contemporary Art Gallery in late 1998.

In this painting, Bob has endeavored to respond to many of the art critics who have reviewed his art over the years. Since art is such a subjective matter (just because I like something doesn't mean that you will, and vice versa), criticism of art often reflects only the view of the critic and often is intended to promote the critic, rather than the art.

This painting deliberately attempts to include material that fits specific criticisms that Bob's works have received. Each item in the painting has been annotated by Bob himself with a specific criticism. There are also some standalone notes within the painting that comment on the art criticism process in general. Some of these notes came from Bob himself; others were suggested by students in his art class at Sanderson High School, where Bob used to teach.

Here are some of the comments within the painting:

  • Anybody can do that + I did it!
  • Don't use this space!
  • Wow! It's so upper yup!
  • Trite!
  • Adolescent use of color!
  • Does text add interest?
  • Oh my God!
  • Too busy
  • Is the artist hot?
  • Goldfish (small gold items "swimming" through the painting)
  • Organized munchkins
  • A vibrant use of bold strokes to create energy
  • Spiral tap
  • Georges (a reference to Hurricane Georges)
  • Grey used to neutralize garish use of color
  • Unnecessary ornamentation!
  • Use brown to be taken seriously
  • Ouch!
  • W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G.! (What You See Is What You Get!)
  • Oooooooh!
  • Too dark!
  • I've seen it before
  • Critique this
  • Wonderful use of dead space (Positive use of negative space)
  • I'm just looking! Will it appreciate?
  • Do you want to eat this?
  • Is humor in art valid?
  • Will this clash with my sofa?
  • Slapdash
  • Is the art critic a work of art? Does the art process the critic?? Do the art critics actually do art? Why not? What did they major in?
  • This use of black allows the use of a black frame
  • What's the point?
  • I simply don't get it!
Instead of signing this work "Bob Rankin", like he usually does, Bob signed it "Robert George Rankin IV" and added "I'm serious!" and "Y estoy serioso" (Spanish for "I'm serious").

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