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Who's Afraid of Conceptual Art?

Dr James Fox embarks on an open-minded guide to conceptual art. He examines a selection of the most influential conceptual ideas and artworks and meets today's movers and shakers.

Dr James Fox has never really got conceptual art. And he's not alone. Conceptual art has been treated with suspicion and incredulity by virtually everyone outside the art world for nearly a hundred years. Ever since Marcel Duchamp first displayed a signed urinal and claimed it was art in 1917. So was he taking the piss? Or was he on to something, creating a whole new approach to art that has now lasted a century?

Dr Fox embarks on an open-minded guide for the perplexed and asks 'What is conceptual art?', 'How should we approach it?' and crucially, 'Why should we care?'. Roaming between the past, present and future he examines a mind-bending selection of the most influential conceptual ideas and artworks, alongside meeting the leading movers and shakers of today. And who knows? In the end, Dr Fox might find himself unexpectedly seduced by this trickiest of art forms.

1 hour

Last on

Mon 30 Oct 2017 02:40
BBC Four

  • What's the big idea?

    Dr James Fox tells the bizarre stories of five extreme examples of conceptual art

Clip

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:48

    Wayne Hill

    Left Bank Two ('Vision On Gallery' Theme Tune)

    Performer: The Noveltones.

Credits

Presenter James Fox
Production Company Sundog Pictures
Executive Producer Sam Anthony
Producer Luke McMahon
Director Luke McMahon
Participant Christian Jankowski
Participant Robert Montgomery
Participant Katie Paterson
Participant Martin Creed
Participant Bruce McLean

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