Art Quote by Dan Graham
![“A [spatial, temporal] work had only to be exhibited in a gallery and then written about and reproduced as a photograph in an art magazine. Then this record of the no longer extant installation, along with accretions of information after the fact, became the basis for its fame, and to a large…” quote by Dan Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2f1/dan-graham-70443_art_a-spatial-temporal-work-had-only-to-be-e_3179991.jpg)
“A [spatial, temporal] work had only to be exhibited in a gallery and then written about and reproduced as a photograph in an art magazine. Then this record of the no longer extant installation, along with accretions of information after the fact, became the basis for its fame, and to a large extent its economic value.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Art and Its Documentation, 1970s, Art Magazine Article
The work’s fame and value stem from its documentation rather than its physical presence.
In simple terms: Documentation creates fame and value.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how records shape perception.
Themes
art
documentation
value
economics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
theoretical
critical
When to use this quote
- gallery exhibitions
- magazine features
- photographic archives
- art market analysis
Key Concepts
media theory
authenticity
reproduction
Questions to Reflect On
- How does documentation affect authenticity?
- Can fame exist without the original?
A Different Perspective
Physical experience may be lost, limiting full appreciation.
![“[The photographs] were there simply to indicate a radical art that had already vanished. The photograph was necessary only as a residue for communication.” quote by Dennis Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0f7/dennis-oppenheim-50499_art_the-photographs-were-there-simply-to-ind_3221685.jpg)
![“The thought for us [street photographers] was always: How much could we absorb and embrace of a moment of existence that would disappear in an instant? And, Could we really make it live as art? There was an almost moral dimension.” quote by Joel Meyerowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/760/joel-meyerowitz-24422_art_the-thought-for-us-street-photographers_2422460.jpg)
![“[Photography was necessary to] make my place in the art-world: in order to do this, I had to make a picture, since a picture was what a gallery or museum was meant to hold (all the while, of course, I was claiming that I was denying the standard, rejecting it...)” quote by Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ee2/vito-acconci-13895_art_photography-was-necessary-to-make-my-pla_205941.jpg)
