The art magazine as an alternative rite of presentation in contemporary art

Abstract

The presentation of artworks is a complex issue. In many cases, the exhibition space designed for a work is distorted, changed, or overwritten by circumstances. Therefore, a surface that is far from any conceivable physical space is a sensitive point for such a representation. An art magazine is a great example for this. It converts the artwork from its physical dimensionality to a two-dimensional space. This transfer should only be done in a sensitive and professional/artistic way. This is what makes this act of presentation special. It does not involve an objective communication position, but it presupposes a kind of personal ritual. Therefore, I assume that the appearance of art magazines, which might seem natural and neutral to outsiders’ eyes, raises more questions than their mere presence would justify. Among these questions, in my article I will deal with the commercial aspect of magazines and the editorial choices. I take a closer look at whether the previous two factors influence some communication aspect of the displayed artwork, and I also examine how magazines edited by artists can differ from magazines edited by professional publishing organizations.