12meyer

hyperallergic:

(via hydeordie)

Accoring to the European Commission, LIGHTS ≠ ART.

In an astonishing move, the European Com­mis­sion (EC) has reversed a decision made in a UK tax tribunal, and refused to classify works by Dan Flavin and Bill Viola as “art”. This means that UK galleries and auction houses will have to pay full VAT (value added tax, which goes up to 20% next year) and customs dues on video and light works, when they are imported from outside the EU….

In its ruling a Flavin work is described as having “the characteristics of lighting fittings…and is therefore to be classified…as wall lighting fittings”. As for Viola, the video-sound installation, says the document, cannot be classified as a sculpture “as it is not the installation that constitutes a ‘work of art’ but the result of the operations (the light effect) carried out by it”.

That last line suggests we could look at this as the EC’s belief in the value or meaning of an artwork to be in its phenomenological experience. Or not.

This makes me feel guilty for once questioning the legitimacy of The Museum of Neon Art (though Flavin worked with fluorescence).
ETA: Read our take on the ruling.