Who knew a Macca's pickle could be worth so much? Why is this pickle $9,000?
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This might come as a surprise to most of you, but an artist has just displayed a single slice of pickle on the ceiling of a gallery in New Zealand, and it costs roughly $9,000 AUD.
Yes, you read that right, folks… a single slice of ketchup-stained pickle splattered on a ceiling is worth thousands of dollars in an art exhibition.
Australian artist Matthew Griffin flung the readymade artwork, which was taken directly from a Macca's cheeseburger, onto the roof of Auckland's Michael Lett Gallery. It seems to be stuck on with nothing but the greasy sauce it came with, and it doesn't look like it's going anywhere anytime soon.
And if you're wondering what the artwork is called… it's simply titled, Pickle.
Pickle is one of four new pieces in Fine Arts Sydney's show in Auckland staged at Michael Lett Gallery. Credit: Instagram.
At this point, we are all probably thinking of the same thing – is a piece of pickle taken from a fast-food cheeseburger and thrown into a ceiling even considered art?
Well, according to Ryan Moore, it doesn't really matter.
'Generally speaking, artists aren't the ones deciding whether something is art is not,' the director of Fine Arts Sydney said in an interview. 'They are the ones who make and do things. Whether something is valuable and meaningful as artwork is the way that we collectively, as a society, choose to use it or talk about it.'
He went on to say that people don't have to think something is 'art' if they don't want to.
'That's often part of the point. Meaning and value are things that we as humans create together – in art or any other part of life.'
'What makes an artwork is when whatever an artist makes or does is able to be used as art: when the object or action is thought about or talked about as an artwork,' he continued.
'And that's what we are doing here, which I think is great.'
Andrew Thomas, co-director of the Michael Lett Gallery, said that Pickle was an important part of the show because it gave people who were seeing Griffin's work for the first time a chance to think broadly about the 'different ideas' it contains.
'There have been many smiles, closely followed by some interesting and engaging conversations,' said Mr Thomas.
Those who are interested in purchasing the artwork will need to shell out a few extra bucks to buy another cheeseburger in order to do so. Then, with that burger, the new owner will get instructions on how to 'recreate' the piece in their own space. (Honestly, though, do they need instructions for that? Just throw the pickle onto the ceiling…)
Pickle is a significant part of the show since it allows visitors to think broadly about Griffin's work. Credit: Instagram.
It should come as no surprise that the piece of artwork has also generated a huge amount of buzz on social media.
On the art gallery's official post on Instagram, one user wrote in the comments, 'I got kicked out of a McDonald's by the police for doing this when I was a teenager. Now, it's art.'
A second person joined in on the fun and added, 'Oh so it's 'art' when you do it, but I get asked to leave the restaurant.' A third person went on to describe the piece as 'Part of a rich late-night tradition.'
Others, though, admitted that they actually liked the piece and commended the artist for his brilliant work.
'I'm siding with the genius crowd on this,' one person said, with another adding, 'I hate pickles. I love this.'
What about you, folks? What do you think about Pickle (2022)? Let us know in the comments!
Yes, you read that right, folks… a single slice of ketchup-stained pickle splattered on a ceiling is worth thousands of dollars in an art exhibition.
Australian artist Matthew Griffin flung the readymade artwork, which was taken directly from a Macca's cheeseburger, onto the roof of Auckland's Michael Lett Gallery. It seems to be stuck on with nothing but the greasy sauce it came with, and it doesn't look like it's going anywhere anytime soon.
And if you're wondering what the artwork is called… it's simply titled, Pickle.
Pickle is one of four new pieces in Fine Arts Sydney's show in Auckland staged at Michael Lett Gallery. Credit: Instagram.
At this point, we are all probably thinking of the same thing – is a piece of pickle taken from a fast-food cheeseburger and thrown into a ceiling even considered art?
Well, according to Ryan Moore, it doesn't really matter.
'Generally speaking, artists aren't the ones deciding whether something is art is not,' the director of Fine Arts Sydney said in an interview. 'They are the ones who make and do things. Whether something is valuable and meaningful as artwork is the way that we collectively, as a society, choose to use it or talk about it.'
He went on to say that people don't have to think something is 'art' if they don't want to.
'That's often part of the point. Meaning and value are things that we as humans create together – in art or any other part of life.'
'What makes an artwork is when whatever an artist makes or does is able to be used as art: when the object or action is thought about or talked about as an artwork,' he continued.
'And that's what we are doing here, which I think is great.'
Andrew Thomas, co-director of the Michael Lett Gallery, said that Pickle was an important part of the show because it gave people who were seeing Griffin's work for the first time a chance to think broadly about the 'different ideas' it contains.
'There have been many smiles, closely followed by some interesting and engaging conversations,' said Mr Thomas.
Those who are interested in purchasing the artwork will need to shell out a few extra bucks to buy another cheeseburger in order to do so. Then, with that burger, the new owner will get instructions on how to 'recreate' the piece in their own space. (Honestly, though, do they need instructions for that? Just throw the pickle onto the ceiling…)
Pickle is a significant part of the show since it allows visitors to think broadly about Griffin's work. Credit: Instagram.
It should come as no surprise that the piece of artwork has also generated a huge amount of buzz on social media.
On the art gallery's official post on Instagram, one user wrote in the comments, 'I got kicked out of a McDonald's by the police for doing this when I was a teenager. Now, it's art.'
A second person joined in on the fun and added, 'Oh so it's 'art' when you do it, but I get asked to leave the restaurant.' A third person went on to describe the piece as 'Part of a rich late-night tradition.'
Others, though, admitted that they actually liked the piece and commended the artist for his brilliant work.
'I'm siding with the genius crowd on this,' one person said, with another adding, 'I hate pickles. I love this.'
What about you, folks? What do you think about Pickle (2022)? Let us know in the comments!
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