Anticlassicism of present-day image appropriation

Abstract

Procedure often seen by art historiography as marginal and peripheral, image appropriation has been fundamental for artists to oppose values ​​between different historical times. The article aims to reflect on the semantic deviations present in the production of Brazilian artists Caetano de Almeida, Renato Medeiros, Alex Flemming, Odires Mlászho, Camila Soato and Calasans Neto, who use image appropriation of classicizing works, with emphasis on the French Orlan as well. These reflections originate from subjects initially addressed in my doctoral research, now expanded, and use a combination of analysis and synthesis, analytical-comparative methods and knowledge of the historical method. The focused artists show critical and anti-classical views to oppose different cultures and traditions, especially classicizing works by Ingres and David. Their artwork results in appropriation of works from different origins and historical times, constituting hybrid manifestations that reject colonialist and Eurocentrist values, and bring to light relevant pluralist issues of the present time. The article concludes that image appropriation is one of the preferred locus of the expressions of contemporary art, because it gives ancient art new and different meanings.