Abstracts
Abstract
Record collectors judge their acquisitions by condition and rarity. Artist Rutherford Chang undermines such norms by seeking as many copies as possible, in whatever state, of one of the best-selling albums of all time: The Beatles (1968), or “the White Album.” After 50+ years, many of the 3 million numbered albums have become worn due to handling but also because of writing and drawing. Since 2013, the artist has accumulated over 3,200 copies—most that are chafed, scribbled upon, stained, or moldy. This article examines Chang’s project and its interrogation of fan appreciation and practices of consumption; the affects of aging and patina; the notion of collaborative creativity; and the role of the artist-curator. In amassing such a diverse array, We Buy White Albums highlights the variability of a mass-produced commodity while demonstrating the effectiveness of an artist-curatorial methodology to raise issues about the life and care of record albums.
Keywords:
- artist-curator,
- Rutherford Chang,
- fan creativity,
- patina,
- record collecting,
- The White Album (The Beatles)
Résumé
Les collectionneurs de disques jugent leurs acquisitions en fonction de leur état et de leur rareté. L’artiste Rutherford Chang ébranle ces normes en recherchant le plus grand nombre possible d’exemplaires, quel que soit leur état, de l’un des albums les plus vendus de tous les temps : The Beatles (1968), ou l’« Album blanc » (White album). Après plus de 50 ans, bon nombre des 3 millions d’albums numérotés se sont usés par la manipulation, mais aussi par l’écriture et le dessin. Depuis 2013, l’artiste a accumulé plus de 3200 exemplaires, dont la plupart sont abîmés, gribouillés, tachés ou moisis. Cet article examine le projet de Chang et son interrogation à propos de l’appréciation des fans et les pratiques de consommation, les affects du vieillissement et de la patine, la notion de créativité collaborative et le rôle de l’artiste- commissaire. En rassemblant une telle diversité, We Buy White Albums met en évidence la variabilité d’un produit de masse tout en démontrant l’efficacité d’une méthodologie d’artiste-commissaire pour soulever des questions sur la vie et l’entretien des albums.
Mots-clés :
- Album blanc (The Beatles),
- artiste-commissaire,
- Rutherford Chang,
- collection de disques,
- créativité des fans,
- patine
Appendices
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