Paul Shortt’s work
is most of all fun! (Check it out at Paulshortt.com.) I have already looked up
‘fun’ in the thesaurus, as I know I’ll be using it quite a lot. And the ghost
of my high school English teacher is looming over my shoulder muttering about using
one descriptive word more that once or twice in a paper ;) But come on, anybody
who uses Calvin and Hobbes as an inspiration? What other word are you going to
use? His work runs from performance art, to video, to more traditional forms.
All of it has a strange sense of familiarity to it, making it accessible to the
general public. But it holds layers of deeper meaning for those who take the
time to consider. For Calvinball, the inspiration is the game from Calvin and
Hobbes, wherein one is allowed to make up any rules one wants to the game, or
indeed to change the game itself. Mr. Shortt’s merry (yup, thesaurus time) work
invited participants off the street to come in and play the game with their
choice of various sports equipment, making up their own rules.
The work ROFL
CON takes the common texting phrase and places it in type upon a red carpet,
allowing anyone who feels the need to roll on the floor laughing. (One assumes
if an act of ROFLMAO occurred, Mr. Shortt would find some incredibly creative use
for the outcome.) Another work involved placing a mirrored version of the 18th
century pillory in a shopping mall. Yes, you can find deeper meanings in the
fact that the pillory reflects back the image of anyone looking at the person
in the pillory. And I’m sure the shopping mall placement is on purpose. But I
can’t help but remember the childhood trips to Williamsburg, VA and everyone
laughing and taking pictures at the re-creation of the town pillory outside the
Capitol building. His work Certificates uses official looking paper to offer
awards for taking seven seconds to complete the minimum amount of time to view
an art piece, or for staying the appropriate distance from a work in the
gallery. My favourite is Best Conversation in an Art Gallery Setting (subtitled
I Was Totally Impressed by the Depth of Our Random Exchange). One hopes Mr.
Shortt’s use of memes in his work means he recognizes the tiny Fry that popped
into my head saying “Shut up and take my money!” I want one of each of these
certificates! Although I could just settle for a copy of his work Free Poster.
Deciding on colour would be difficult. But I really feel we could come to some
agreement on price. His work is many things. Sometimes he says exactly what he
means. Free Poster means, well, free poster. Sometimes he seems to be
contradictory. Please Do Not Climb on the Sculpture is a sculpture in the shape
of stairs. His work contains both a childlike joy and a serious social
commentary. It welcomes everyone. But on the whole, I’d have to say it was
amusing, boisterous, convivial and entertaining! (And it’s fun too!!!!)
