Simple explanation: the poststructuralist jab had nothing to do with what you said. I was talking broadly and drawing on my own experiences of visiting galleries and reading the sometimes absurd explanations by the artists of what their work 'means', 'expresses', 'reveals', 'shows', etc.
It's interesting that you bring this up, because it's been a source of confusion and vexation for me over the years. I used to approve of the inclusion of an artist's explanation, because I felt that it was necessary to truly understand an artwork; and indeed, I still do believe that intentionality must come into play somewhere. Without authorial intent (that is, if it's disregarded altogether), I don't believe there can be any inquiry into its meaning, and perhaps it even lacks any merit as a work of art at all.
However, the placement of an artist's explanation right next to the work seems, to me, to also be antithetical to art. It presupposes that someone is viewing the work, which insinuates that the artistic object was made "for the viewer." Hegel has two impressive insights into this:
"[...] the separation in the work of art between its subject and the spectator must emerge and yet must immediately be dissipated because, by displaying what is subjective, the work, in its whole mode of presentation, reveals its purpose as existing not independently on its own account but for subjective apprehension, for the spectator."
and
"If the work of art in the severe style is entirely shut in upon itself without wishing to speak to a spectator, it leaves us cold; but if it goes too far out of itself to him, it pleases but is without solidity or at least does not please (as it should) by solidity of content and the simple treatment and presentation of that content."
EDIT: but... this is the "best of 2010" thread, so maybe we should leave it to rest.
I don't think Atlantean Kodex's release was as disappointing as others make it out to be. It's a killer effort, and "Pilgrim" has to be one of my favorite epic doom tunes to come along in a while (along with Ereb Altor's "Wizard").
I'll also throw out Castevet's
Mounds of Ash.