Art You Can't Get To

In 1958, scientists from Russia left a plastic bust of Vladimir Lenin at the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility, and as of 2007 it was still there. What does it mean? Guest host John Green ponders his fascination with this object and the changing nature of art.

Thanks to our Grandmasters of the Arts Vincent Apa and Indianapolis Homes Realty, and all of our patrons, especially Patrick Hanna, Nichole Hicks, Jane Quale, and Constance Urist.

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[doomslegumes]

It should be called, “Schrodinger’s Lenin”.

[nisoar]

I feel the same way about the Voyager Golden Records, probably the most inaccessible art in existence.

[petersmythe]

"The bust of Lenin was still there"
ANTARCTICA WILL NEVER FALL TO THE IMPERIALISTS!

[suspendedsky]

the idea of old statues just sitting there on the floor of the ocean freaks me the hell out

[iamgerg]

There is a saying that goes, "Every year I read the Torah, not because the Torah has changed, but because I have."

I cannot think of a piece of art that has not changed, a piece of art whose meaning is static.

Art is, in many ways, a mirror. And while the artist can shape how their art reflects, they cannot control what is reflected.

[jonas]

thats some A level trolling in the most remote place on earth

[YanWangStudio]

Art is often accused of being inaccessible to the public. The Soviets took that literally.

[vlogbrothers]

hahahaha I just noticed Sarah put a weather radio in the background! Thanks to Sarah and the Art Assignment community for welcoming me to this channel for a couple videos. It has been really fun (and very hard!) to write about art with anything approaching the rigor of a standard Art Assignment video. I am, as always, in awe of Sarah and the work she makes. She'll be back next time! I may get to guest host one more AA video this spring, but other than that, it will be back to normal around here! I am such a fan of this community, and I feel really lucky to have been able to make a couple videos about art experiences that are important to me. -John

[DampZombieNugget]

They also should make a statue of Lenin's torso and legs in North Pole just opposite of his bust.

[TheGeniuschrist]

isn't every direction north when you're at the south pole?

[ninaakopyan]

"The world's most inaccessible Lenin's bust"
Oh God, this is hilarious. Actually, we still have shit tons of Lenins, especially in smaller or ex-military towns. Often they seem quite spooky, especially in more abandoned areas. If you could imagine Russian version for Silent hill - Lenin would be there

[ARTiculations]

Artworks that have changed meaning for me over time are religious paintings and sculptures. I used to dislike or ignore them because I grew up in a religious household but became agnostic as I got older and wanted to distance myself from religion. But now - because, like you mentioned, of the passing my time - I've shed that baggage and can now appreciate early christian or renaissance paintings of saints or Jesus for their beauty and historic significance.

[graphite]

When it comes to inaccessible art, I think of the Voyager plaques.
Not even in our solar system any more, so far from home, into unknown darkness, two nude etchings.

[anarchistanimecatgirl]

There is a poem by a poet Vladimir Mayakovski, “Komsomolskaya”, quite iconic within the Soviet bloc, but unheard of in the West.

There is a fragment that goes:

“Lenin — lived,
Lenin — lives,
Lenin – will live.”

[mortenharket]

2:55 - 3:05

That's some A level of trolling between the US and USSR lol

[SamOshins]

one thing that, I think, is unassessable but absolutely integral to the experience of great art is the incredulity that often accompanies "great" or "powerful" or "moving" art. It's the "how" factor that leaves your mouth agape, and your mind racing for answers. Jackson Pollack portrays this with his simultaneously moving and simple paintings (Rothko is similar in my experience of him), and even someone like Duchamp was playing with this with his fountain. I am fully with you that this bust is astounding, but not like you said for any specific artistic merit, instead because it banks on the surprise and delight of it's sheer existence. It's art like this that challenges my definitions of art, and I'm thankful that you've showed me it.

[gen_li]

A piece of art that continuously changes for me is book the little prince. Every time I read it, a different part of it stands out or resonates more with my current situation. I take it with me whenever I got to new places. It has a sort of gentle grounding effect for me. It reminds me to assess whats important, though the important thing seems to change ever so slightly as I get older.

[hannaho]

This made me think of the Lascaux caves, the story of which I love so much. The idea that to protect the ancient cave art from being destroyed both by tourism and research, the caves were just exactly reproduced before being sealed off is amazing to me. We can now look at the replica but who knows how often the originals will get viewed, maybe as often as this Lenin bust

[lillidavies]

The poem Ozymandias comes to mind looking at the bust in the middle of nothing

[urface]

Alright people we gotta prepare an expedition to the arctic and touch the lonely statue