Rick Gibson's Shock Art Analysis

Shock Art is a very controversial form of art—some believe it exists merely to draw attention to itself, while others see it as the height of creativity. Some would argue that art itself has no set definition; that it is up to the artist and viewer to decide. What is aesthetically pleasing is a question to ask as well. Some attack the artist themselves when creating controversial work, but in the end it is the art itself that will go through many different analysis in determining if it is considered to be art or just entertainment.
Rick Gibson, born in 1951, is a Canadian native, who frequently wears a business suit and sunglasses. He started off crafting 3D holograms and was very successful in doing so, he now likes to push boundaries and

Art critic Cynthia Freeland believes this is not how art should be viewed, that you can not personally attack the artist, but rather look solely at the art and go from there. Lippard’s analysis of art states that you should look at a piece of art in three ways; you look at the works formal and material properties, its content and its context to determine whether it is acceptable as a piece of shock art (Freeland). As for Gibson’s work, the formal and material properties of his work are very delicate and scarce—if you make a mistake when freeze drying the fetus or other human body part, you cannot simply go by the corner shop for another. The act of freeze-drying flesh in itself is a very difficult and laborious task to perform successfully. There are many very time sensitive steps and exact temperatures required in the process, and a mistake will turn the specimen to dust. The content expresses intense meaning, making the viewer question how valuable life really is. It gives a whole new perspective on life, just seeing a carcass that was once a living breathing thing turned into a piece of art provides a new experience of the meaning of life. Gibson finds justification in the idea that there are already animal and even human parts being used for things all the time but they are just unnoticeable. In art supplies, clothing, food and things we use and consume everyday there are often animal parts incorporated into it—this art just draws attention to it. He legally purchased all these parts that would be consumed and purchased by the public regardless. His art exists in the context of the taboo surrounding death—particularly death resulting from objectionable practices such as abortions and the slaughter of animals. Gibson did not kill or harm any of these beings personally; rather, they were already dead for other