D is for Duchamp the Deep Dyed Deceiver

Marcel Duchamp was not enigmatic. He articulated his theoretical understanding of art with utmost clarity, and maintained this position consistently for more than half a century. At its core, he believed that the spectator gives meaning to the artwork, while the artist is merely a 'mediumistic being', not cognizant of what his intuition brings forth. Significance is a societal yield. Authorship, accordingly, resides in reception. The Arsenale Institute's project takes this concept seriously, transforming the way Duchamp's œuvre and legacy are understood. This volume is published on the occasion of the exhibition 'D is for Duchamp the Deep Dyed Deceiver' at the Arsenale Institute for Politics of Representation | Venice, May 9 - November 22, 2026.