The Rope.

The name Tate Modern suggests the art it is displaying must be viewed in a modernist perspective. This opens an entirely new narrative of art compared to the art displayed in the National Gallery. The Tate displays modern forms of art such as minimalism, surrealism, and pop art. (By the way I believe Andy Warhol to be one of the most overrated artists ever). In our last class discussion on modernism, the idea that "nothing is there by chance" really interested me.
In one room, I came across a rope. A very large, green rope placed in the center of the room. Initially I laughed. I could not stop from laughing. Of all of the obscure, modern installments, the rope seemed ridiculous to me. It bothered me so much that the curator chose this rope to take up any space in such an amazing gallery. This installment made me question art and what art means and ultimately made me refer to the familiar "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" theory. If nothing is ever anywhere by chance then what or who put the rope in the center of this room? I did not choose for it to be there. If art represents a society and its culture then what does this rope suggest about London? I understand that moving an everyday object (such as a rope) and placing in the center of a bare white room can somehow changes the meaning of the object. But a rope is a rope, whether it is sitting in someones garage, the back of a serial killers trunk, around someones neck, or on display in the center of a gallery. The meaning of a rope does not change, just the purpose.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." I can't help but still believe this is true. Society did not choose for the rope to be there. The rope does not represent modern London culture (to me anyway). The curator chose for this object to be there. It was THEIR choice.