French artist Orlan: 'Narcissism is important'

[Falldownallaround]

She even stated that she is seen as "not fuckable." She is a smart artist. She knows how to get her art seen and heard of. She is the image, her brand. When you walk through a mall and see people facetiming on their iPhones or carrying their Zara bags, they are promoting a brand. Orlan is doing that. Roy Lichtensten did it. Edouard Manet did it. Association by imagery is what you are being taught at art school. Isn't exhibition technique taught at art school? You need to be seen to be art.

[Pawnbroker00]

@Falldownallaround She is a fucking idiot. Just like van Gogh, and other similar morons. Famous for being morons.

[Falldownallaround]

@Pawnbroker00 If you believe that artists have to be morons to make it, I can agree with you. Artists play the character in their souls. Whatever you perceive of them is truth in your mind. I cannot disagree with your opinion, because you are an intelligent being; you have your own thoughts. Thank you for sharing. Some day I wish to be a moron just like them. :)

[Pawnbroker00]

@Falldownallaround I am an artist! Noone needs to be insane like her to produce good art. How is ruining your body good art? I make nice pictures in my own style without conforming to other styles, but i do it without being a shitty painter like van gogh or a crazy bitch like this woman. The dogs speak, but everyone else hears barks.

[TRISTANLOCO74]

she got lost in her own reflection.... what a contradiction!!!

[mariakhan396]

i absolutely love her!

[catchablemonster]

Stop feeding the troll you guys :v

[diogommm1]

Orlan practices body art, that's a kind of performance. she breaks the barrier between thought and body, she materializes her thoughts, her statements, in her body. obviously those statements can be applied to both sex genders but it foccuses on the female gender because she questions a lot the concept of beauty established on our days, what woman go through to comply with that concept.

[PaperStory]

this woman is brilliant.

[reimana808]

I Had A Fart In Class I Call It Art.

[selfXpres]

clearly addicted to PAIN...however, i did consider the message to be 'WHY, WOMEN WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO DEFY THE INEVITABLE...AGING, MORTALITY, UGLINESS'...and your significant other always desiring youth and beauty.

[evilmickey100]

this bitch is crazzzzzy

[TraeNagelMakeup]

Thumbs up if you aggree that SOSTacoJohnson is a douchebag and no one really cares where you went to school or what you think, and you seem to be replying to every1 on this video for someone that hates it, what a jackass, btw were u graduate doesnt make u a good artist, your art does

[RubiconXing]

@TraeNagelMakeup THANK YOU. He annoys the hell out of me. He doesn't even sound like a HIGH SCHOOL graduate!

[TraeNagelMakeup]

actually i belive her statement to envoke society to question beauty was achieved by ur negative response, your response saying she is crazy and ugly is the intention the surgery was to portray the mona lisa, i think she is a radical exhibitionist who has inspired lady gagas born this way image and she also did the surgery unsedated and reading

[SOSTacoJohnson]

@TraeNagelMakeup She has inspired pretty much no one and ruined her life in the process. In fact, she's probably caused more harm to the art world through "making herself a piece of art" than she has brought credit to it. There are a million and one ways to make your ideas and views known. Turning yourself into Frankenstein? Probably one of the more... insane ones.

[RubiconXing]

@SOSTacoJohnson SMFA? Hahahhaah. What a joke. I go to RISD... try harder next time.

[SOSTacoJohnson]

@RubiconXing applied to risd and smfa 2 weeks before my semester started. got in 2 both 1 week later. chose smfa b/c a). its in boston, and B). good artists graduate from smfa, and shitty artists graduate from risd. bro. get on my level.

[TraeNagelMakeup]

@SOSTacoJohnson i really wasnt interested in your opinion, art is subjective to the viewer, it is MY opinion that she is visionary and inspirational, and your predicatble reaction is the mere ignorance that orlan underlines, you say she ruined her life, that is for her to decide, i have modified my body. am i crazy, YES and love it, the normalcy is boring, art should envoke emotion, what is there to argue if you simply state the obvious or challenge nothing, she redefined beauty and gender

[SOSTacoJohnson]

@TraeNagelMakeup Everything I said was true. She inspired very few ppl. this is true. She ruined the way most other people see her. this is true. She has caused more harm toward the perception of the art world, than good. this is true. & so we can see you are wrong, and I obviously am right. But let us recap, you identify with orlan; you are not sane.

[TraeNagelMakeup]

@SOSTacoJohnson as i said there is no right or wrong it art, you bring up philophies and being an asshole to everyone on this page thats fine, you should practice relativism, art is relative to the viewer, you dont like it, then stop wasting ur time on this video and being a prick, i like it im not wrong and your not wrong, there is no wrong so fuck off and shut up no one cares THAT much, and who the FUCK wants to be sane anyways, sane artists are boring and envoke no change or reaction

[SOSTacoJohnson]

@TraeNagelMakeup lol no i bring up facts. you call them philosophies cus ur a dumb fuck.

[almanacofsleep]

@SOSTacoJohnson fiction is more interesting than facts

[TRISTANLOCO74]

@TraeNagelMakeup U have'nt realized that u r not insane, for more eccentrique u wanna be or feel, and build your self image like that, u are, in fact been exactly the canon of our epoque,

[TRISTANLOCO74]

@TRISTANLOCO74 la mode de l art its exactly that, the transgression, the look at me, thos artists at the end of the day, doesnt matter what have they do, they work as a production, to the world of art in this moment what does matters is the espectacle, the show has begun, break the barriers, calle the atention, we ll call the masses and multiply the benefits, profits..

[TRISTANLOCO74]

@TRISTANLOCO74 . the artist call with desesperation im here, im thinking hear what i have to say, and that happens exactly when their work stops saying something for itself to the publiq;;; the less any work says the more u have to justificate, its sad but the only think that keeps the art moving its money, cause its a merchandise wich its used to speculate and receive profits by the corporated world....

naive!!!

[RubiconXing]

Plato ruined everything.

[SOSTacoJohnson]

@RubiconXing plato philosophized that only intelligent people should run governments and that they should be given a meager amount of money and property, and heavily monitored as to prevent them from recieving bribes. & in this way, the politicians of their times would be more concerned with the lots of the impoverished, than the power of the wealthy. You sir, are an idiot.

[lucyintheskywithcake]

@MaisterM68 indeed. anyone who thinks that gaga is artistic in the way that this woman is, is an idiot. gaga obviously tries to be beautiful, she got completely transformed pre fame to fame for a reason. her marketing team deletes comments on her facebook from people who say she's not beautiful for a reason, as well

[MrCriminalwatch]

Indoctrinated Genetic manipulation or interbreeeding ? Alien ? ;-) Looks like the results of a eugenics experiment to me. ;-) Too much Radiation & Flouridated Water?

[sillygoose544]

Her art is terrible and hideous!

[MrZebra69]

if all of the people in the comments section denigrating Orlan's value system would please propose an alternative, superior system of values and personal priorities, one that they actually adhere to, i'd appreciate it. thanks.

she prioritized her vision, and it worked, and she was able to build a livelihood out of it. don't get all butthurt because your pisspoor vision was either less marketable or, gasp, never executed at all.

[xChowder07]

I love his horns L) xD

[2012davante]

o wow just learn wow to pronouce the french word exhibitionnist= exhibitionist it was a little hard but i got it now :)

[kejaris]

i love her creativity but she is as crazy as that rich lady that had plastic surgery to look like a cat

[Adler36]

I love Orlan. She is very eccentric. :-)

[SOSTacoJohnson]

@mthrnaturesson but to finish wat i was going to say. In honest, art is anything that is an expression of something else. But generally we hold the word "art" to a higher standard- something above metaphorical fart jokes or kindergarten finger painting. Well in this instance, you are watching the insanity that sometimes calls itself art. That should not be mistaken with real art, or real artists. Much in the same way one might attempt to differentiate rap from hiphop, real art is logical.

[SOSTacoJohnson]

@mthrnaturesson well it is certainly not the anti-science. I can assure you of this. Something like fox news, its viewers, and their common activities would undoubtedly take the cake on that. Nonetheless, I cannot help but question the integrity of the art world when they attempt to quantify things monetarily, classify art, or judge artwork deemed abstract or "modern". Much it the modern work is good, but some is garbage, and their attempts to defend / understand it are thinly veiled.

[MrsMoonshine8]

Those implants are, quite frankly, horrendous... I have nothing to say about her creative statements, but the least that can be mentioned is that she's got some balls to undergo plastic surgery that regularly.

[websurfin2010]

@MrsMoonshine8 And I think she placed those balls in her forehead.

[Ihatemyusernamemore]

she's like quella deville

[DuckieXt]

This embodies everything I hate about contemporary art. She's doing so much, mutilating herself, but not really saying anything at all. Her message is nothing new, and for God's sake, you don't have to go to such extremes to make a point. Be more intelligent about it. And why is she so obsessed with her body? There's a fine line between social commentary and actual obsession. We need to evolve and get past this 'body' bullshit. Enough going around in circles.

[sclapione]

@DuckieXt Man, she's been doing this for ages, when she started out the context was quite different *rolleyes*

[DuckieXt]

@sclapione That's the concern - she's been doing it for ages. Has anything changed in society? No.

Whatever, she's overrated.

[LittleMissKeshia]

so sad..she used to be so gorgeous..and now look :S

[Adler36]

Don't misunderstand me please, but I think she is very intelligent and sympathic! Yes, she is VERY eccentric as many artists are, but that does'nt mean she is insane in my mind... She is very creative. Of course it's very "crazy" to do that with your body, but look at all this celebrities who had cosmetic surgery, they just do it because of vanity- she does it for art. :/ Her "horns" remind me on Lady GaGa's new "Born this Way - Look" by the way...

[xopenheartx]

@Adler36 yep, Gaga was inspired by her and originally wanted to get permanent implants on her face too but her boyfriend talked her out of it...

[ihatejb08]

@xopenheartx She wasn't inspired by her. She didn't even know she existed until "NME" told her about her. She went on to say that now she will be inspired by her.

[Adler36]

@xopenheartx Thanks, I heard of that! ;-)

[Slipjig9]

ew.

[sexualgorgeous]

what art center in toronto does she mention???

[renenosexi]

BORING!!!

[ekimusman2]

I don't think that she's a "nutter" at all. I think that she's fantastic.

[heyjustbored]

God ppl watch this and compare her to gaga like really get over it who cares haha

[vuhldis]

orlan and narcissism . if i were a woman performance artist I would film myself after giving birth - extruding the placenta or after birth .

[MuSiC8410]

Not to make it sound like this was the only thing I was focusing on, but why are the bumps on her head so sparkly??

[SOSTacoJohnson]

I got accepted into one of the most prestigious art schools in the country. & I left because so soooo sooooo many people were more insane than sane. Less logical than logical, and to make matters worse, they saw themselves as visionaries or martyrs. If you are a logical, science based individual, be careful about attending art school; many people there are just talented, many are just insane.

[acho1975]

@SOSTacoJohnson arts is not logical..or unlogical..its about expression...I guess better for you left the art school. Art is not for everyones, Arts happens. Its a vision of someone about what he(her9 thinks about something...it is not for people to buy or sell or say woow so beautifull, so nice...The beauty is just a side of the arts...of life, or a reality...but nasty things, the ugly, the "insane", the dark, the horror, is ooother side of the reality.

[SOSTacoJohnson]

@acho1975 This isn't dark horror; its bad art. All good art is beautiful. & not in a traditionally linear ideal of beauty, like a perfectly shaped tit, but rather as beautiful in it the way it makes you respond, like a powerful movie or image about humanity overcoming or suffering through poverty. Does it evoke and inspire strong feelings? Its creativity and originality are like multiplied bonus points. lastly, since everything has a cause/effect, art is logical; most simply cannot fathom it.

[MarkyRiddleW]

@SOSTacoJohnson Why would a logical, science based individual go to art school?

[SOSTacoJohnson]

@MarkyRiddleW idk i was good at it and i like smoking weed?

[desnee718]

@SOSTacoJohnson what art school was it?

[SOSTacoJohnson]

@desnee718 smfa

[almanacofsleep]

@SOSTacoJohnson You sound both utterly boring and dim

[SOSTacoJohnson]

@almanacofsleep ooo you sound soooo mad.  ;D

[Adler36]

@SOSTacoJohnson I'm an artist too. :'( We are not crazy, we are just very eccentric... That's all.

[SOSTacoJohnson]

@Adler36 I'm not saying all artists are crazy. Just a lot of them.  this being a good example.

[Shadapaga]

@Adler36 eccentric is a dismissive its bullshit, ive been called eccentric my whole life, im creative not crazy or different. Orlan knows there is a futile sense of superficial martyrdom in her work thats why she obsessivley denies it. she is trying to desperatly make a statement about cultural beauty and perception but really its superficial human beauty is not aesthetic its completely cultural and dumb. she is a shock artist that is only interested in the provocative.

[Shadapaga]

@SOSTacoJohnson your right i am not logical or science based but art and academia dont mix art school breed an unusual mix of hipsters, over archievers, and retards.

[AnthropomorphicHorse]

@SOSTacoJohnson Hey, some of the best art ever made was done by nutjobs. Van gough or JP witkin for example. It's like that old saying: "You don't have to be crazy to work here but it helps". God knows I could do with some screwballs in my artclass. Every one's dull as hell. :P

[vlodigiani]

She is great! Truly brave.

[VividIngenuity]

@EsmeraldaIris36 She JUST had an interview where she and the interviewer googled orlan and she said "wow, cool, another inspiring artist". And no, *they were not born with those implants.

[rachelsanders2]

She's an artist all right- a con artist!

[Julietasagitario]

WOW!!! IS VERY INTERESTING

[MiamiPush2theLimit]

This bitch is crazy as hell.

[Noone1505123]

Funny how she, because she was the first to get "artistic surgery", isn't all that different from the people who write FIRST!!!! on Youtube vids

[punkartpunkart]

french artiste which i love really so much

[sexualgorgeous]

what gallery or art centre does she mention is at toronto???

[sexykatie90]

TheGuardian my msn in profile! French artist Orlan: 'Narcissism is important'

[monQsurlaKomod]

i love her work -overall in the sixties and seventies- and i found in this video, a delicious woman..../before saying she's mad or nut, take a look at her work..my favorite one, is a picture of her body she printed on something like a dress, and she wore it in a public park: did she walk naked or not???...impressive mind

[willwork4superpowazz]

This isn't a narcissist she's just a downright nut.

[SugarPuffsMonster]

she's barking mad

[progressivereviews]

She is not brilliant, quite the opposite in fact. She is narcissistic, racist, fetishzies self mutilation via cosmetic surgery and highly anti-feminist. She perpetuates the historical monstrous women like Medusa. Her true monstrosity shows how she trivializes other culture aesthetics.

[PutisBen]

@progressivereviews She doesn't fetishize self multilation, she was just making a statement. pushing the boundaries, as people say. Please explain how she is anti-feminist and racist? Quite frankly, it seems to me that you're trying to debase her work because you don't like it, staying "cool" and "alternative" in the process. Alternative lifestyle, music and art is based on keeping an open mind to other ideas, not limiting yourself to what's considered "hip" being a total art-snob.

[progressivereviews]

@PutisBen Her "Self Hybridization" is nothing more than a modern day minstrel show. Its actually quite offensive. She mocks their culture. as for Anti-feminism, She doesn't create a solid female identity but rather constantly fluctuates. Liberation through pain and mutilation is not feminism. And i appreciate the sentiment, but i'm far from hip.

[PutisBen]

@progressivereviews Oh okay, you're OFFENDED. I like her even more now, the best progressive artists make the ignorant angry.

[progressivereviews]

@PutisBen You seem to be the only angry person in the conversation. And i hate to tell you, but racism isn't quite progressive

[PutisBen]

@progressivereviews seriously, how is she racist? you're percieving something that isn't there, good sir. I haven't shown a bit of anger, whereas you seem fucking outraged... calm down. you're just making up reasons to be angry.

[lafilledupontjaune]

open minded!!! She's an artist, and she works for art, if you can't understand that, you can't understand life ;)

[kphzorz]

I must be a philistine, but I think this is lame.

[Pillage4Pleasure]

I think this cunt has been creamed in, too many times, and was prescribed unsuccessful. The absurdity of her trying posterity is unfortunate.

[rejectzombie]

brilliant and dedicated

[Mazlla]

I love her, she's amazing :)

[abaraizal]

Get braces nutjob.

[DraskyVanderhoff]

At first time i didn't see "horns" but when realize it , i like it a lot. I'm not in favor of surgery , is too unperffect and doesn't maintain the natural harmony of the body , i preffer genetic manipulation. In this case is a really good work.

[10FLFL]

It's ok...when she's 62 ...she can stop

[bangAlice]

she's brilliant.

[JackJosephh]

youd think that shed at least fix her teeth 

[loveangel71]

Dam! French people are fucking weird, they creep me out. Dam! Les Français sont fucking bizarre, ils me glisser hors

[gussdeblod]

@loveangel71 automatic translator are bad ^^

Not all frenchs are like this ^^ I would have run away long time ago if all french women were like her!

[21thewiseone]

i think this is intoresting i like it in a way

[loggeronline]

She creeps me out!

[MagnusRulerHardt]

Her face... was... wiggling.

[homman106]

tres interessant---

[mickcleere]

i love your work keep it up

[DeccaQuinne]

It's the French Sue Pollard!

[morethansalt]

@pedrodemellodotnet No, it's not presumption in HER work, it's presumption in your opine of her work.

[zarikianc]

nothing like her

[karaloyal]

I swear I STILL don't get French Feminism. To be fair, I have really tried... I am sure Orlan would be a delight to have a cup of tea with, and I get the basic components of what she is doing, but I don't understand... I don't know... the Gestalt of what she is doing. If someone could shed some light I would love it.

[morethansalt]

@karaloyal if this kind of work doesn't resonate in some way for you even without being informed on the movement, perhaps you would be better off to look for some videos on people like Romero Britto, Thomas Kincaide or even the Victorian Classicists. You could "get" those artists' more easily, I'm sure.

[morethansalt]

@karaloyal "Defend"? I don't. Every work is valid. It's not for us to defend, it is for us to view, listen, absorb and think. Perhaps respond. But all is valid, whether it is easily understood or not.

[sexualgorgeous]

i wish she met me, then she'd love me

[searchGOOGLEyouMORON]

wow some people love to be hated....i like that ;)

[Laynezm]

Wow. She is amazing. You really have to watch the whole video to understand.

[itslegitOfficial]

amazing...all for art...i wish i had this dedication

[torsejuf]

No soy un artista, pero esto no me gusta nada de nada.

[mevroom8]

i just feel in love.

[loveupskirts]

amazingly unique artist, absoloutly fascinating. Im always suprised shes not more well known, and feted.