This fits into the "yes-but-is-it-art?" category:

Gallery patrons line up to ask 'What time is it?

Fri, 21 Oct 2005 13:07:33 EDT CBC Arts

London's Tate Gallery has paid 20,000 British pounds for a performance piece that involves gallery patrons standing in a line and asking each other the time.

It was one of 14 pieces bought for the gallery from the Frieze Art Fair, an exhibit of work from contemporary galleries around the world.

The performance piece, called Time, is by Buenos Aires artist David Lamelas, a pioneer of conceptual art known for his short film and video installations.

Lamelas is fascinated with the concept of time and is quoted as saying that, "Time is a fiction." His performance piece is meant to give participants a new perspective on "the environment of the museum and static objects."

Time involves members of the public being invited to stand along a line placed in a gallery or other performance space. Each participant is asked what the time is and replies in their own language.

The piece was performed during the Frieze fair, which is held every October in Regent's Park in London.

The Tate acquired pieces from the fair through the Frieze Art Fair Special Acquisitions Fund, valued at 150,000 pounds in 2005. The fund is organized by a group of gallery patrons and donors who want to help the Tate acquire international contemporary art.

A Tate spokeswoman defended Time in a statement to the BBC.

"Part of the appeal of the work is that it can be performed in any number of locations," she said. "Yesterday it was performed at the art fair."

Among the other works acquired: a filing drawer full of blank index cards by Dutch artist Stanley Brouwn, another seminal conceptual artist; sculpture by California artist Matthew Monahan; and a film by Lithuanian artist Deimantas Narkevicius.

The Tate also bought five photographs by New York photographer Zoe Leonard and two ceiling fans made of skateboards and colanders by Brazilian artist Alexandre da Cunha, who specializes in reproducing functional devices out of found objects.

The pieces remain on display at the Frieze Art Fair, which is exhibiting 160 works by contemporary artists from around the world. It runs Oct. 21 to 24. The Frieze Art Fair is associated with the cultural magazine, Frieze.