Abstract
This exhibit can be considered a sort of parody of an average gallery exhibition. Sacrilegious elements such as shoddy hand-written labels, tilted shelves, and lack of measurement call attention to the standard formula of a visual art exhibit. Artists are meant to think outside the box, but many adhere to strict guidelines when it comes to showcasing artwork. Everything must be just so.
But expecting perfection leads to disappointment. Having an exact plan means things will go wrong. This exhibition challenges conventional notions of beauty and shows that some of the most truly beautiful things in the world happen not through intent but by chance. The work was created with a conscious penchant for imperfection.
Letting go of perfection and fear allows for an absurd and humorous creative practice. The work aims to evoke a sense of playfulness, avoiding pretentiousness at all costs. In the grand story of the visual arts, spanning millennia, this exhibition offers comic relief.
The objects in the show aren't made to be revered, they are made to spark curiosity. People ought not be careful around the artwork, they should be comfortable with it. The work isn't made to be beheld, it is made to be held.
Advisor
Liz Miller
Committee Member
Robin Becker
Committee Member
Curt Germundson
Committee Member
Chris McCormick
Date of Degree
2025
Language
english
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Program of Study
Art
Department
Creative Arts
College
Humanities and Social Sciences
Recommended Citation
Ritchie, H. (2025). Heiniboxitittel [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/1520/
Included in
Fine Arts Commons, Interactive Arts Commons, Sculpture Commons
Rights Statement
