The Fine Line Between Artistic Genius and National Irritant

To say that Istvan Kantor was not a popular selection as the winner of this year’s Governor-General’s Award in visual and media arts would be an understatement. “Even from within the art-world ranks, the reaction to the announcement was mixed, with many opining that Kantor had more of a genius for self-promotion than art-making.” Some call Kantor a neo-Dadaist genius – others sniff that he’s merely neo-annoying and full of himself. Trying to keep an open mind is critic Sarah Milroy, who, after viewing the artist’s latest film, is wondering “what would happen if Kantor stopped screaming and started thinking instead.”