Keywords: undefined places/spaces, exhibition space, site-related, site- specific, memory of place/space

artist's studio, transformation of the space, museum, gallery, institutional critique, production, artist creativity, artist as curator, replacement

 I think, the initial relationship between an artwork and its place commence at the artist's studio. For this reason, I will start by examining the relationship between art and artist's studio. Then, I will focus on how artists transform other spaces after the work leaves the studio, if it does.   

The Artist's Studio

Initial production of the art work commence at the artist's studio. According to Daniel Buren, he defines the studio as unique space of production. Artists can substructure their artworks inside the studio and decide how to do it. But what happens when produced artworks go outside from its 'real place'? Can artwork lost its meaning or on the contrary, it becomes more meaningful with its new place?

Studio is an exclusive place that the artists can produce there and the works only can judged by the owners (artists). The studio also gives opportunities for visitors, collectors or curators to see the works before they exhibited. Thus the studio is a place of production, shelter for artworks and the connection between art commerce and artists. In this case, the artworks produce in site-determined place but should move to another place in order to exist. Although studio is the unique space of the artworks, galleries or museums are still the space of exposition. According to Buren, he emphasizes significance of the studio and on the other hand he argues about financial difficulties of the artists if the works stay at studio perpetually. Constantin Brancusi was the only artist that he protected his works inside his studio and believes that the work should be its place where it made. Although his death, his works preserve inside his studio according to his bequest. (Buren, 1979)

figure1: Brancusi's Studio, Paris

 How Artists Transform the Spaces?

Anselm Kiefer is the artist who moves abandoned silk factory at Barjac (France) and transformed into a living space and studio. Tim Marlow, who is the director of Royal Art Academy, defines his space as a work place which becomes later a work of art and then becomes a site, a canvas or a space of a gallery.

                                                   

     figure2-3: Anselm Kiefer's Studio in Barjac

site/ space / place

According to Oxford dictionary 'site' means "an area of ground on which a town, building or monument is constructed."