See link.

People would see the piece titled "Oil Painting On Canvas", see that it's hung backwards and inquire about why it's hung backwards. They'd be told it isn't. Then some would lift it to see what's on the other side and see it's an exact painting of the back of the canvas. They'd tell others in the gallery and discussions like "That's the stupidest thing I've ever seen." might spring up. Some might say "Well, it's different I guess." Other's might say "This isn't even art." etc etc. But many people would probably interact around this to some degree. Might even bond over how much money the museum charged to show "This garbage" which would ironically be giving them their money's worth.

The first job of art is to get people's attention and I think this would to that. The second job is anybody's guess, but that doesn't happen unless the first thing happens.
-- doctorremulac3, Jul 23 2024

"Oil Painting On Canvas" https://www.dropbox...bo&st=s0oihid8&dl=0
[doctorremulac3, Jul 23 2024]

Okay, case in point: I was actually kind of curious what the back of the Mona Lisa looked like.

Mine has a lot more doodads, clamps, cables n such. More stuff for people to talk about. Like "What are these tension cables for?" etc.
-- doctorremulac3, Jul 23 2024


I like the social intent, but *just* adding extra layers of meta-ness is a party trick that gets old after a while. It's better if layer n of meta-ness solves some problem that layer n-1 did not solve, and that is sometimes the case, but not usually in the visual arts.
-- pertinax, Jul 23 2024


Well, there you go. If somebody says THAT after looking at it it's done its job.
-- doctorremulac3, Jul 23 2024


Hmm. Someone there is as crazy as me.
-- doctorremulac3, Jul 24 2024



random, halfbakery