Conceptualism for Dummies.

Conceptual art is any work that can question the meaning of art. Although it may not be recognisable as art, it can be just as popular as an oil painting. It may only exist for a moment, and only survive in notes and photographs. This documents the work without being the work itself. The movement emerged in the 1950s, although it drew inspiration from much further back in the 20th century. The Dada movement, and the work of Marcel Duchamp is often stated as the start of conceptualism.

His work 'Fountain' (1917), which is a urinal signed 'R Mutt' shocked critics and public alike. This raised the question 'could a mass-produced object become art simply because an artist signed it?' Duchamp produced many of these, and they were known as 'readymades'.

Conceptualism is, in part, a rebellion against the commercial art world. Conceptual artists create works that have little or no physical presence. A performance piece, for example, exists physically whilst being performed; once the performance is over, there is nothing to hang on the wall or put into a frame. Documentation, such as photgraphs of a piece being performed, or a written list of instructions, may survive, but are not the work of art itself, simply a representation.

Sol LeWitt designs large wall drawing, but these works are executed by others. So, who is the artist? LeWitt, or the person who executes them? Does having the idea make you the artist, or making the piece? This is just one of the questions that conceptualism raises.

As with all rebels, the Conceptualists who did not create solid works of art expected to be poor, through having nothing physical to sell. However, if the idea of the work is the core, that can be sold. Collectors started to buy these works that were previously thought of as 'unbuyables'.

Conceptual art is based on the idea, as is all art, at a basic level. Consider Abstract Expressionism, which has been described as the antithesis of Conceptualism in certain ways.

A Jackson Pollock, for example, is created in the moment, dripped onto the canvas with little planning before its execution. It is about emotion and creation; it is composed on the canvas. There are always arbitrary choices involved, but reliance on systems (often known as 'uncomposition') is a hallmark of much Conceptual Art.

Unlike other movements, Conceptualism was not a conscious movement. Like Impressionism grew from a number of artists exploring similar ideas, Conceptualism grew similarly. Both movements contained a dislike for the modern state of the art world. However, Conceptualism signifies a way or ways of approaching the creation of an artwork.

Other groups of artists emerged around the same time. Minimalism, which is as much about the use of materials as the concept of the work, overlaps Conceptualism quite a lot. Performance art, though also getting inspiration from Dada, blossomed during the same time. Video art began to emerge also, but that has more to do with the development of video equipment.

Bruce Nauman is an artist who has produced many video works, and could be considered a Conceptualist. Many artists use Conceptualist approaches today who might not be termed as strictly Conceptualist artists. Thus, though Conceptualism reached it's peak back in the 1970s, the idea continues.