In Class Writing #5/ IP #1

Eco states “the American imagination demands the real thing and, to attain it, must fabricate the absolute fake” (Eco 8). This thought is most vividly seen in representations made by many American artists such as those who recreate human figures in wax museums, or reconstruct the habitat of a wild animal captive in a zoo. Contemporary artists however are beginning to step away from representations, and using the authentic as the piece of art. English artist David Shrigley boldly takes a step in this direction of reality in his piece “I’m Dead.” Displayed in a case is a taxidermy kitten standing on its hindlegs holding a sign that reads “I’m Dead.” Shrigley was able to give the viewer the authentic, which is what they wanted. However, many reactions were varied from complete awe to shock and aversion. It makes a point that maybe the authentic is not what we actually want to see, and that it would be easier to look at a stuffed kitten rather than a taxidermy one. Seeing the unreal does not bring about conflict and our imagination leads us to accept the reproduction, “because the reproductions of the reproduction are perfect”(Eco 10). The visual is able to convince the viewer that “the fact that it seems real is real, and the thing is real even if, like Alice in Wonderland, it never existed”(Eco 16).


Works Cited:

Shrigley, David. I'm Dead. 2007. Carnegie International Gallery: Life on Mars, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh.