Experiment # 2 (two): Artmann by LplusL (2004-2005)

Everyone can produce paintings... not everyone is therefore artist. Does an artist stops being an artist if his work is delegated? Artmann is LplusL's prêt-à-porter art brand. Paintings are designed on computer, then outsourced to painter studios in Xiamen, China.
The first collection of Artmann paintings was designed by LplusL.

Artmann as artwork

Every painting is a particle of the total artwork. On a superficial level an Artmann painting is just beautiful or simply fun. However, there is much more behind it.
Artmann, as ultimate form of democratization and as engaged promoter of contemporary art, succeeds in spreading the usually so “difficult contemporary art” to an audience that nearly doesn't give a damn about it. This is possible because Artmann can be read on different levels. Thanks to the radical concept, Artmann is able to belong to the high arts. Nonetheless, because of the visual aspect it stays accessible to many. This makes it extra ironic. Artmann is for a big part orientated to an audience that doesn't give a shit about differences between low and high art.
Artmann is also an art work that functions as reflection, questions and even undermines the global art system.
How much is a work of art worth? Who decides it and how? What makes one artwork worthless and the other valuable? It's all woven in the Artmann concept.

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www.artmann.be * info@artmann.be