With the rise of modern art, the meaning of art has expanded, challenging traditional notions of what art can look like. Salvatore Garau, an Italian conceptual artist, has pushed the boundaries of what art means and has had great success in doing so.
In 2021, Garau sold his sculpture titled “Io Sono” for roughly $18,300 at an art auction and quickly attracted media attention for his unconventional methods. The sculpture was completely invisible, with the buyer receiving a certificate of authenticity and display instructions for an empty five-by-five-foot space.
While some argue that his work is unique and introspective, others argue that it is just empty space and therefore invaluable. But regardless of opinion, Garau’s work challenges traditional boundaries of art and asks the audience to consider how they determine the value of art.
- The Inspiration
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Garau’s inspiration for the art stemmed from his belief that art does not need form, and that just because the art is invisible does not mean it doesn’t exist. He believes that the empty space is a vacuum for the energy and thoughts of other people. The sculpture encourages viewers to consider their own ideas of perception and imagination. “Therefore, [the sculpture] has energy that is condensed and transformed into particles, that is, into us,” Garau’s said.
His work challenges the traditional idea that art must be physical, instead taking on conceptual forms and asking the viewer to look inward at their own imagination.
- The Value
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The sculpture does raise an interesting question about how value is assigned to art. Unlike traditional art pieces, there’s nothing physical to display, so the buyer essentially paid for ownership of the concept behind the art.
Some view this as an excellent example of conceptual art, believing that art has no form. The piece requires us to consider what “art” really means and what forms it can or can’t take. It also requires one to use their imagination to visualize something that doesn’t physically exist, encouraging the viewers to look inward for meaning, and therefore emphasizing the idea behind the artwork rather than its physical appearance.
However, others consider the whole idea quite absurd. The buyer paid thousands of dollars for something that is intangible and cannot be shown to others, causing people to question whether a piece that cannot be seen can be considered art. Critics also argue that to call this piece art is a mockery of artists who work hard to make physical art pieces, just for an invisible sculpture to receive widespread attention and sell for thousands of dollars.
- My Opinion
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I think the concept behind the piece is interesting because it has me reconsidering the bounds of art. Instead of just looking at a piece, it requires me to think about the meaning of art and how value can be placed on pieces.
However, I also find it difficult to consider something as art when it doesn’t physically exist. I do appreciate the concept, but I think there’s a difference between what can be considered an art piece and what is just an interesting concept.
Although I wouldn’t consider the invisible sculpture art, the fact that it has sparked widespread discussions about art as a whole is what makes it an innovative idea.
Whether or not Garau’s invisible piece can be truly considered art, it has certainly made us question what art really is, and how we can determine its value.
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