Transgression and Taste
What makes art good or bad, or rather valid art. Who decides? Is it the gallery art is exhibited in? Is it the particular art scene? The artist?
Ultimately I think it's you, your supporters and the creative community you are a part of who decide. In my opinion, an artist trying to make sincere comment about something is valid.
I am really interested in considering when does being transgressive add value to a piece of art because this is something I want to explore in my own work.
A pioneer of body art, American artist Chris Burden arranged to have a friend shoot him non lethally in a gallery space, in response to the trope of being shot in America and the Vietnam War. The piece was called 'Shoot' and caused major controversy. He wanted to feel things bodily that he had only understood so far visually. I love this, most of all because no one stopped him. It's a really big lens on the bystander effect. And also explores what you can get away with as an artist, that otherwise would evoke a totally different reaction.
I found a great documentary about it here:
https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000003694572/shot-in-the-name-of-art.html
