Michael Criag Martin

Michael Criag Martin

Michael Criag-Martin

 The life of Michael Criag Martin started in Dublin, 28th August 1941. This was during the second World War and the same year that Dublin was bombed. The second and third of January and 31st of May. On the 31st 28 were killed. These bombing were on the South and North of Dublin. This was probably decision making time for his parents on the safety of their family.

Education wise he was taught the ways of the Roman Catholics by nuns and priest for eight years. He then went to an all boy school in Washington which is now called St. Anselms Abbey. He was intreged by the stained glass art that was shown to him by a priest at the school who was also an artist.

Picasso's The Greedy

 This was the only art which was inside Michael Craig Martin's childhood home which linked him to art, Picasso's Greedy Child painting. Neither his mother or father had any interst in art.

Through the priest he was also able to look at Mark Rothko and the Phillips Collection.Rothko's work is said to show an emotional impact of colour.

Rothko Room

The Phillips Collection is an "intimate museum combined with an experiment station" -Duncan Phillips, 1926. It was also one of the first art museums in the world.
Now the Phillips Collection is an exceptional collection of modern and contemporary art in a dynamic environment.

Magrite, The Son Of Man

At the age of 13, during the late 1950s. He explains that his early experiences such as contemporary art work led him to believe that he had found the world’s best secrets.He was able to go to drawing classes in Lycee by Antonio Roda who was able to expand Michael perspective of art. After living in Washington Michael's father had some work in Colombia for a short time.Michael studied fine art at Yale University in 1973. He began working at Goldsmith’s College of Art in London. London where he is thought to have influence over the Young British Artists. His influences include Magritte and Duchamp, who he describes as “my heroes”.

Duchamp

Michaels most famous work is An Oak Tree, which is now regarded as an iconic piece of conceptual artwork. Oak Tree. It was created in 1973, it comprises a tumbler of water placed on a glass shelf accompanied by an explanatory text. However, Craig-Martin insists that the piece is in fact an oak tree. The text, also called The Oak Tree interview, comprises a series of questions and answers. But instead of providing a conclusive explanation, the message proves to be a never ending thinking addition to the work as a whole.

Oak Tree

He does drawing and painting and all his works are colorful. His art is different than any other artist. Michael has a style of detached conceptual art. The Conceptual art movement began in the 1960s. Conceptual art became a fixture in the art world and it affected other aspects of visual culture.

Michael's personal life consisted of having a  wife, Jan Hashey and one daughter, Jessica Craig Martin.
He is now divorced from Jan.

Michael was involved in the YBA movement which began with a group of artist led exhibitions held in warehouses and factories, beginning in 1988 and, in 1990. The  term "YBA" (Young British Artist)  was not made until 1996 . Most of the YBAs were born in the mid-1960s. They are known for "shock tactics", which is the use of throwaway  or wild-living materials.The YBA gained a lot media coverage and dominated British art during the 1990s.

When Michael was asked about what initially gave him the idea of such a controversial piece, he explained that it was driven by a need “to discover the most basic, the essential quality of all art ,the bottom line being the things that separates art from other things.