Statue Honoring Steve Jobs Destined for Apple Headquarters Unveiled in Belgrade

[MuseumVisitor]

iThink Different

Where did “Think Different” idea of Apple consumers go? Can you imagine a competition of 10,000 people who all submit one realistic “But there is one more thing...” Steve Jobs statue????

Before I answer my own question, I guess I should distinguish main stream users found here and those a bit more progressive, creative ones led by Apple itself.

I’m all for the striking, new, out of box vision!

 

[yossi]

Now I'm wondering about the ones that didn't make the cut...

Oh you mean the ones that didn't look like a pile of garbage and were pleasing to the eye? those are not art!

 

[blinkytoo]

Bad Joke

Steve Jobs would have the person who gave the OK for this monstrosity shot. This head-on-a-spike joke statue is a like Homer Simpson's design for the car of the future. Looks like a d-minus effort in welding 101 class at the remedial work furlough school.
Did I mention this "statue" is awful.

 

[AppleMark]

Hideous.

I know Art comes in many forms and I enjoy many.

This is not one of them.

 

[\-V-/]

I think those imperfections are symbolic. Although the body is made of imperfections his head is put at the top above the imperfections which means he is and thinks above them. He then translates his higher thinking into beautiful apple products.... well, at least when he was still alive. Just an idea, art is interpretable.

The symbolism isn't the problem... it's how that symbolization was conveyed with this monstrosity that people are having issues with. I'd much rather be interpreting something that's aesthetic and beautiful than this... thing. We've all read what this statue is supposed to mean. That doesn't make it any less ugly. The same could've been done with a molded pile of dookie with a 1 and 0 sticking out the sides with Steve's head placed in top. Oh wait... that's what this is. :/

To those people with the ridiculous comments saying we just don't understand art to appreciate it... you are kidding yourselves. The majority of people who are going to walk by this thing aren't going to be elitist art critics, and I think it's safe to assume you aren't either. Most people can appreciate aesthetics... it's written into our DNA. Our ability to appreciate art as a species is the reason art exists in the first place. To explore the depths of our imaginations. I understand imperfections and I understand symbolism and you are making many of us out to be ignorant to that end. People aren't stupid. Ugly is ugly regardless of its meaning. Congrats to the ugly statue for being symbolic. It still looks like something out of a horror movie.

 

[ctdonath]

Unfortunately, the story doesn't make that pile of junk look any more attractive.

Agreed. I've seen a museum feature a painting of just two shades of black (left side was one, right side the other) which was accompanied by 3 pages of explanation.

Art should stand on its own. Explanations can expand one's understanding, but should be secondary to the work alone. If it requires pages of explanation to appreciate to any degree, it failed.

And oh my word this "Jobs tribute" thing failed. He'd hate it. A barely-resembling head? A gritty sloppy malformed surface? Vague complexities meaning nothing to the viewer? Cyrillic letters? Utterly not Jobs, not Apple, not Minimalist, not Buddhist; it's the antithesis of all those things that constituted him. It's hateful, not respectful.

 

[NT1440]

God, it's a good thing Steve is dead because I think he'd hate that thing.

I don't mean to hate on the artist, as art is subjective, but this thing is not my cup of tea at all. Looks a bit like the claymation that Tim Burton was playing around with before a Nightmare Before Christmas

 

[ctdonath]

Where did “Think Different” idea of Apple consumers go?

The "Think Different" campaign celebrated those who countered culture to improve it. Just thinking different does not warrant respect in and of itself, as famously spoofed by this video. (Someone got a better copy?)

 

[techwhiz]

One man's are is another's garbage.
I guess in this case, my opinion is .....Garbage!

But, art IS subjective. This piece of art should be subjected to a crusher...

 

[\-V-/]

I just showed this statue to my father and his first response was, "It looks like a penis."

 

[MuseumVisitor]

Hideous.

I know Art comes in many forms and I enjoy many.

This is not one of them.

But that's exactly how main stream people reacted to Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia at the begining…

On the other hand, to me hideous is used to describe little uniformed robots.

 

[ctdonath]

Can you imagine a competition of 10,000 people who all submit one realistic “But there is one more thing...” Steve Jobs statue????

Doesn't have to be realistic. Does have to capture the man's spirit, vision, and achievements ... which isn't done with globs of metal slapped together to form a single 0, a single 1, three letters in a language never associated with him, and his head on a pike.

I'm imagining something more like...
A large (2m) vertical brushed aluminum square plate, laser etched with millions of 1s & 0s which are the actual (both in content and position) stylized portrait of Jobs when viewed from a certain angle. Seems like nothing but minimal perfectly-rendered metal at first glance, then reveals the objective content upon close inspection, then exposes the subjective experience when the right viewing position is discovered.

 

[Flood123]

The overwhelming majority says otherwise. This isn't art.

Regardless of if you like it or not, your assertion that this is not art is just plain wrong.

 

[ctdonath]

I’m all for the striking, new, out of box vision!

Striking? This statue is striking like "punch in the face" striking.

We're all for striking (as in "insanely great"), new, and out-of-box vision. Globules inspiring revulsion isn't it.

----------

Regardless of if you like it or not, your assertion that this is not art is just plain wrong.

After decades of contemplation, I've concluded "art" is anything which was made just to be looked at. If the experience of viewing does not benefit the viewer, it failed.

Yeah, this thing is art. Seems few, if any, here are finding any benefit in viewing it.

 

[Aragrist]

I don't think it's quite minimal enough.


I think it looks a ton better without all the appendages.

Yes, remove all the unnecessary stuff and make it simple and streamlined. Art decorations should compliment the surroundings not jarr them. I think apple should reject this piece and keep looking for something that actually represents Jobs and the company ideals he created.

 

[Seppentoni]

Ohh my… Great example of the Uncanny Valley

 

[JetLaw]

Wow. How hideous! I think Steve would be less offended by a sculpture of him holding an Android-based tablet in a loving embrace. I guess that's what they get for hiring Forstall to sculpt his likeness.

 

[HoosierRon]

My dog just pooped in the back yard. Is it too late to send it to Cupertino?

 

[Flood123]

After decades of contemplation, I've concluded "art" is anything which was made just to be looked at. If the experience of viewing does not benefit the viewer, it failed.

Yeah, this thing is art. Seems few, if any, here are finding any benefit in viewing it.

It's really a question of tastes. It is a completely valid form of expression. Popular opinion doesn't dictate if it is art or not. I am not saying I like this sculpture. I don't. I just think to say it isn't art because you don't like it is an extremely narrow and under informed view point. That is just my opinion. There are a lot of people that would disagree with me.

 

[bobbyd38]

Sorry, this is just Creepy! Doesn't Honor/Portray Steve at all.

 

[AppleMark]

But that's exactly how main stream people reacted to Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia at the begining…

On the other hand, to me hideous is used to describe little uniformed robots.

Indeed.

However, I also find the Sagrada Familia hideous and had the unfortunate chance to see it in person last year on a visit the Barcelona.

Although I do not consider myself "mainstream", neither do I see the 'Emperors new clothes'

Over hyped let down really, IMO

 

[HoosierRon]

I just think to say it isn't art because you don't like it is an extremely narrow and under informed view point.

True, something can be art even if people do not like it. On the other hand, just because someone expressed it does not make it art. For example, attached is a photo of an expression in my office. It is not art. It is garbage.

 

[Flood123]

True, something can be art even if people do not like it. On the other hand, just because someone expressed it does not make it art. For example, attached is a photo of an expression in my office. It is not art. It is garbage.

I would venture to say that many artists, art critics, and art professors would disagree with you. On that note, this isn't a new debate and we aren't going to break new ground here with it.

 

[radiohead14]

love the sentiment, but the statue looks like something out of human centipede

I'm thinking human centipede. Very flattering.

this

 

[\-V-/]

Regardless of if you like it or not, your assertion that this is not art is just plain wrong.

Fine. It's art. It's still horrendous.

Thank you for the vids. My daily laugh requirement has been met.

No problem.