Earlier this month, the Internet was stunned and fascinated to see
this skull made of compressed cocaine and gelatin, created by the
artist Diddo. Namely, they were stunned that it could
be called art. But what we realized was that this was far from the first
time that the nefarious coca extract was used in some kind of artistic
fashion. Whether it is material, situational, referential,
or just plain tangential, cocaine has been a media of choice of artists
for years past. Here is a partial list of Art Pieces Using Cocaine.
Exhaled Cocaine by Cornelia Parker, 1996
Location: U.K.
Parker convinced customs agents to give her the ashes of seized cocaine. (Authorities burn the substance when it is confiscated, as it destroys and purifies it.) But the interesting thing about the title of this piece is that it is impossible to exhale cocaine. Rather, it is a cyclical comment on the flammable substances used to extract cocaine from coca leaves.
American Excess by Plastic Jesus, 2012-2013
Image via Nick Stern
Location: Los Angeles
Though this piece didn't use the drug directly, its illicit nature (and our love of street art) helped land it on this list. The artist Plastic Jesus installed a giant hundred-dollar bill and a huge pile of faux-caine outside an Urban Outfitters in Los Angeles earlier this year. In fact, he did it twice. The piece, called American Excess, was removed promptly from the streets both times—first, right near the 2012 holiday season, and again on July 4. "The piece was motivated by the fact that cocaine is everywhere in society but it's like the elephant in the room. No one mentions it in polite society," the artist told Complex.
Though this piece didn't use the drug directly, its illicit nature (and our love of street art) helped land it on this list. The artist Plastic Jesus installed a giant hundred-dollar bill and a huge pile of faux-caine outside an Urban Outfitters in Los Angeles earlier this year. In fact, he did it twice. The piece, called American Excess, was removed promptly from the streets both times—first, right near the 2012 holiday season, and again on July 4. "The piece was motivated by the fact that cocaine is everywhere in society but it's like the elephant in the room. No one mentions it in polite society," the artist told Complex.
Night Sky Test #1 by Matthew Brandt, 2012
Image via French Twist on Tumblr / Matthew Brandt
Location: Los Angeles
Like many of these works, using cocaine as the medium makes as strong a commentary as does the visual work itself. This is implicit in Matthew Brandt's Night Sky Test #1 where the artist silkscreened cocaine onto black velvet, creating facsimiles of the night sky. The message is that the viewing experience of the night is equivalent to being on drugs.
Like many of these works, using cocaine as the medium makes as strong a commentary as does the visual work itself. This is implicit in Matthew Brandt's Night Sky Test #1 where the artist silkscreened cocaine onto black velvet, creating facsimiles of the night sky. The message is that the viewing experience of the night is equivalent to being on drugs.
Powder by Daniel Knorr, 1994
Image courtesy of Daniel Knorr
Location: Munich, Germany
From the artist's statement: "Five hundred grams of confiscated cocaine were spread out on the floor of the Galerie der Künstler in Munich, Germany and encased in bulletproof glass. A sketch was made in the powder, both in order to emphasize the artist's participation and to minimize any tension that might result between the visitors and the police officers present. Two uniformed policemen and one undercover agent were on guard during the opening hours of the gallery. An information corner was set up by the police with materials about their work that passers-by were allowed to take with them."
From the artist's statement: "Five hundred grams of confiscated cocaine were spread out on the floor of the Galerie der Künstler in Munich, Germany and encased in bulletproof glass. A sketch was made in the powder, both in order to emphasize the artist's participation and to minimize any tension that might result between the visitors and the police officers present. Two uniformed policemen and one undercover agent were on guard during the opening hours of the gallery. An information corner was set up by the police with materials about their work that passers-by were allowed to take with them."
Cocaine Buffet by Rob Pruitt, 1998
Tumblr / Rob Pruitt
Location: New York
Conceptual artist Rob Pruitt was somewhat ostracized from the art world in the early '90s, after creating a poorly received tribute to African-American culture. But when he returned to good graces in 1998, it was a peace offering of sorts that the artist offered his patrons. For a gallery opening, instead of big-budget paintings or sculptures, he laid a 50-foot line of cocaine across mirrors in the gallery for the viewers to snort, which they did. It played into a pattern of critique and celebration that Pruitt has been toying with for years. And, as the art-world lore goes, all was forgiven.
Conceptual artist Rob Pruitt was somewhat ostracized from the art world in the early '90s, after creating a poorly received tribute to African-American culture. But when he returned to good graces in 1998, it was a peace offering of sorts that the artist offered his patrons. For a gallery opening, instead of big-budget paintings or sculptures, he laid a 50-foot line of cocaine across mirrors in the gallery for the viewers to snort, which they did. It played into a pattern of critique and celebration that Pruitt has been toying with for years. And, as the art-world lore goes, all was forgiven.
To view more, go to http://www.complex.com/style/2013/09/cocaine-art/
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