Fursuits As Art

[lupestripe]

Can fursuits be considered art? Mere tapestries for the soul on a fluffy canvas? Or are they as artistic as which clothes we decide to wear?

Comments

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Sculpture art perhaps.

[megadog.livejournal.com]

As someone who's not 'into' fursuits in any way shape or form, I view them as theatrical props for a persistent and poorly-produced costume-drama.

[wruf.livejournal.com]

I treat each one of my costumes as an art project. They incorporate many art forms and the final product is a piece of performance art if you will :)

[godzuki.livejournal.com]

I think some fur suits can be considered artistic, while others are more like prints....

[kiwihunter8.livejournal.com]

That was well said!

On the other hand, when a painter finds a winning style, a lot of times they do a lot of work that's in a similar vein. Leading to that recognition factor of "That's a Picasso", or "That's a Warhol". So maybe that's what we're seeing when we recognise similarity in suits.

[godzuki.livejournal.com]

True, though considering Warhol's attitude to the production of art, its also pretty damning *grin* But yeah it shows the commerical side of the business, making the same style and the style that sells winning out over innovation and creativity.

The same thing could be said for alot of the popular artists on FA for example.

[evilsquirrel86.livejournal.com]

ARt is all down to preception if one person can consider a photo of sleeping hobo as art whilst another views it as a skanky tramp, im sure fursuiting as art can work in the same way.

Creativity inspires fursuits so indeed could consider artistic, where as the original an different species that dont see often of can be masterpieces
but like godzuki stated with the many replicas and genericness can be prints.

[age-a.livejournal.com]

Anything which is created can be viewed as art. Cars, buildings, consumer electronics... So, yeah, fursuits can be regarded in that light. Of course, some hold up to the scrutiny a lot better than others.

[tr-wolf.livejournal.com]

No, they're costumes.

Sorry, I looking too simply at it? :P

[wolftale.livejournal.com]

Hm.. is a good question.
I wouldn't call it art..But some probably would.

[patter-snowfox.livejournal.com]

Hi, I recognise your suit from EF last year, yeah I was one of the guys woandering round with a pair of ears & a camera :P I can dig out a few photos of your suit if you want.

[wolftale.livejournal.com]

Hi there *waves*
Cool that someone recognise me xD or my suit :) I didn't use it too often since I didn't feel like my preformes was the best (got the suit on the first day of EF).
Hah, there was so many people with ears and camera :P
Oh, and I would love to get those pictures if it isn't to hard for you to find :D

[utlah74.livejournal.com]

Why, Vin has the hips of Venus De Milo... the torso of Diadoumenos... and for yourself, as a preferred customer he'll sell you the Big Boobies of the Fallen Madonna at a discount. ;)

[harlequeen.livejournal.com]

Thinking briefly about this, it would depend on the suit. Individually made one off suits would appear to be art. Much as I would consider the "clothes" that appear in fashion shows art.

However something bought off the peg and worn, would seem more like any other clothes.

[growlcoon.livejournal.com]

Performance aside, I've always considered them a creative expressive form of personal art. Heck, in most cases you have to design it on paper before you can make it. And I know a lot of fursuiters who display their fursuits like artwork. This is quite common at cons especially. Rarely do fursuiters hide their suits in a closet at a con, myself included. I have it out in my room to display for visiting friends. ;)

So to sum up. In my opinion, yes, it's art.

[patter-snowfox.livejournal.com]

Well in this age, anything can be art, you just need some overpaid wonk to say "yup, art". Thats got to be how Tracy Emin got going.

Now while I wouldn't actually buy a fursuit, if I did, I would have to buy a mannequin to display it on. Wouldn't seem right buying something that expensive and shoving it in a box when not wearing it.

From the Snowfox English Dictionary:

[snowfields.livejournal.com]

Art (Noun) - A cultural medium intended to provoke an emotional response.

I find the majority of fursuits leave me feeling very little. They're bland affectations of furry celebrity status, the London Furmeet "Fursuit Wan^H^Hlk" being a prime example of this: You're not worthy unless you're clad in the latest anthro design. I /am/ impressed by people that turn their hand to making ears, tails & whatever; that's a cottage craft and I think it should be applauded. I can also appreciate that as a pseudo tribal thing. Making totems and fetishes to signify your belonging to the larger group is something I can dig.

Fursuit Porn (Vulg.) - Pass me the kleenex :)

Does that count as art? Maybe. I think I like seeing the debasement of highly expensive creations in a shower of thick ropes of tepid manfat.

Re: From the Snowfox English Dictionary:

[slinkat.livejournal.com]

Assuming most of the recognised suit makers started out as hobbyists, at which point do they cease being valued craft enthusiasts and start being what I guess some would call sell outs? What happens when you're good enough at making stuff that people ask you to make stuff for them?

[jackalesque.livejournal.com]

Depends how creative the character is maybe? Sometimes now and again I'll see a really creative looking fursuit that's quite inspiring. Guess you could draw a comparison with unprovoking hotel art vs. something you might find at an exhibition (although lots of stuff at exhibitions I don't find inspiring at all.)

I mean, you could probably say fursuiting in itself (not many people do it properly) is a form of art, like acting.

[atomicat.livejournal.com]

I would say almost all aren't, some try and fail, a very few succeed. I'll be trying my best.

[mstegosaurus.livejournal.com]

I think the question of whether or not something-- anything-- is art depends on the intention of the creator. The assessment the observer can make is whether it is, subjectively speaking, good art.

[rebelsheart]

I would definitely consider fursuits art.

[symphonic-rp.livejournal.com]

Certainly the design and creation of fursuits falls under the heading of "Arts & Crafts." And fursuiting would fall under the heading of "Performance," which is one of the arts.