After my frustrating day yesterday, today I was determined to get out of the room. I got up and went straight to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was beautiful. It was also overwhelming and I found it hard at times to concentrate on what I was looking at. I felt like there was so much to see and do that I became more desensitised than if I had gone to a bunch of galleries with the same work. It was a sensory overload!
The architecture of the building is amazing, majestic and intoxicating. I really enjoyed walking through the rooms and being able to view the art and the space it was stored in. I went to the following areas in this order: Ancient Egypt, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, European Painting/Sculpture, Modern Art and then photography and drawing.
Thoughts and evaluations:
· The Egyptian art was earthy and had me thinking back to my high school Ancient History classes. I was glad to remember most of the stories about the different rulers and time periods. There is something very distancing about ancient artefacts, I find it hard to connect that these people once existed in our world. It’s incredible what has been recovered, such as the linen and cloths. It also makes me wonder how long it will be before some future generation has our bowls and plates and coffins sitting in a museum, labelled art. In that sense, it also makes me think about the discussion we had about conceptual art the other day at Beacon. Not that a bowl is conceptual art, but rather it has the same thought that something mundane (such as a bowl) could be labelled art. Ikea in a museum of art...there’s an idea!
· I found the Asian art graceful and precise. I think the relics of these ancient civilisations are indicative of their personalities. The Japanese tea ceremonies I have seen are so particular and precise, so it only makes sense that the same art and craftsmanship go into how items, such as cups and vases, are made.
· The European paintings had a lot of religious figures and symbols. Perhaps I am just noticing it more now because I am really looking at the paintings, but I didn’t think The Louvre had as much religious “stuff” in it in such a concentrated way.
· The European paintings also included a lot of mythology which I am quite familiar with. There was a painting of Venus and Cupid. The description said that the Venus figure was representative of a bride and the painting was probably for a wedding in Italy. There were symbols throughout for love, etc, but the most odd (for me) was the one for fertility...Cupid was peeing on Venus. This is originally why I read the description, because I didn’t understand why someone would paint that in such detail and...beauty? The symbolism is clear now, but I still think there could be a better way to show it!
· When I got to the Modern Art exhibition, I was proud to discover that I could name a lot of the artists just by looking at the art, before reading the name! I must be learning something!!!
· One thing I didn’t see of Picasso’s (because there is an extensive collection here) was Guernica. I don’t know if that’s because I missed it or because it isn’t at The Met. I teach that painting at school for the Year 12 Drama Absurdism unit and would have liked to have seen it.
· I find I prefer the Picasso drawings more than his paintings. I assume this is because it is from a different period in his life. I also think it’s because it’s charcoal on paper and I like black and white.
· I learned a lot about different styles and periods of art history today. I’m feeling far more knowledgeable then when I came.
· I went through a lot of different moods and mindsets in The Met, due to its size and all that it holds.
I then walked down 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue, crisscrossing all the way down to 75th St before getting on a bus. The Upper East Side exudes “class” and I get the feeling that everybody is judging everybody else. It is definitely not a comfortable atmosphere or laid back. There was a film set on 5th Avenue as I passed and trailers on surrounding streets for cast and crew. It was too cold to hang around and see what it was for. I had to pinch myself to remember I was in New York. Having been here for almost two weeks now, it becomes so natural so quickly, and then you walk past a film set and remember where you are and that countless films, tv shows and other art forms have and continue to be made here. It’s crazy.
When I caught the bus, it went to the West Side, through Central Park. I didn’t know where it was going to go and really enjoy the adventures I’ve been going on without planning. When I got off on the other side of the park, the first thing I noticed was the difference in mood from where I had just been. It was more relaxed and casual. There were more tourists taking photos and families walking. It was nice. I felt more comfortable then on the UES, where it feels like a spotlight is always on you, ready for you to look silly...or poor. I wandered down to the south end of the park and Columbus Circle. There were some markets I wandered through before catching a train to Penn Station (34th St). I was looking for food and a book...having left mine in Beacon on Monday L
Straight up from the subway stop was a tourist shop and I quickly found a blaringly touristy book and pen. I then went next door into McDonald’s (I know) to write. I had a drink and fries. My stomach wasn’t up to anything else and potato is comfort food to me J
I sat wrote down some notes about The Met so I hopefully wouldn’t forget too much more...I had already forgotten most of what I thought. I then got back on the train and went to 42nd to get the R train to Prince St. When I got to Prince St I walked east until I found the New Museum. I took a few photos of the very recognizable building and then went for a walk as I was early. I went around the block, and on the opposite side to the museum were a few galleries that I checked out. One was called Day Blink and was film and digital photography. It was interesting and trendy. The one next to it was called Hendershot Gallery. This part of Manhattan feels far more urban and punk. There were basketball courts and soccer nets across the road from where I sat, with kids playing. The atmosphere was very different, again, from the UWS. I love that about this island. Every neighbourhood is totally different to the one next to it. There is such vitality here.
I went back to the museum entrance and waited for others to arrive. My knee was starting to hurt, pretty much the first time this whole trip, so I was okay with that. I managed to get some tap water from the cafe to take my pain medication. I had really been looking forward to this exhibition as it seemed interactive and pushed the boundaries.
Thoughts and notes:
· The artist, Carsten Höller, apparently got a PHD in science before turning to art. Carsten is said to be interested in the role of the artist and uses his audiences as lab rats. The psychological reactions to his work are important.
· This is evident in the first room we went into on the 2nd floor. The large space was filled with flashing fluoro lights around the walls that went off in a sequence and surely would have caused an epileptic fit for someone who was so inclined. It did make a lot of people uncomfortable. This was the point of course. It also made it difficult to hold a tute, but I still gained valuable information about the artist that I wouldn’t otherwise have.
· Höller acts as researcher and his work isn’t complete without an audience. There would be no reaction, and therefore no art, without us.
· Mark made the point of, as you walk away there are still images imprinted behind your eyes and in your head form the lights, this is the art; which will be different in everyone. Mark calls them “after images”.
· Höller’s art tries to break with the notion of the art as an object and, instead, make it experiential. The viewer is seen as a participant.
· The fish piece was interesting. It placed the fish above our heads as we lay down, to look up at them.
· It is about the work and the reaction to the work.
· When we discussed why there were baby animals on the ground (made from foam and vinyl), Mark suggested a political reading. That Höller is democratic and centre left. That he is suggesting the need to protect the animals, suggested here in a state of vulnerability, perhaps why the crocodile was included with it. The fish may also link into this idea. By placing the fish above our heads, they are seen as higher status and we should take care of something so special. I did wonder if that environment was healthy for the fish though, I thought they required a stabilised environment and controlled light...not flashing lights.
· Following on from this, Höller’s are is the democratisation of art. It removes the elitism of art and high culture, it doesn’t matter who you are, you can still experience art the same way as anyone else. It also explores art as entertainment. The slide and swing, for example. The flip side to this would be the art becoming an art fair or carnival.
· Mark also suggested that the first floor we were on was about anti-critical, anti-analytical thinking.
· The girls in my room later commented that they didn’t like the exhibition because it gave them a headache and the whole thing was awful. I offered the opinion that it was only the flashing lights that gave them the headache and it permeated everything. Without the lights, they might have enjoyed the exhibition. Perhaps this is a comment on ridding ourselves of things that hold us back? Moving forward, into the future? He does seem to be about future invention. As with the slide.
· Höller’s work is about disruption and he calls his work “confusion machines”. It is incredibly avant garde and is designed to shock and confuse.
· Still on the 2nd floor was a series of small rooms with little “machines”. The first was of two tv screens with different images playing, the second I sat down with my elbow on the table and had to hold my nose with the fingers of that hand, while with my other hand, I had to press a vibrating machine against my arm. Apparently it was meant to make me think my nose was getting longer and shorter (when I had my eyes closed). It didn’t do anything.
· The third room held a vile with a liquid...said to be a love potion. I couldn’t smell anything.
· The last room had the participant sitting in a chair with their arm on a bench that when you pressed a button, little things would come up and hit your arm from under the bench. Apparently that didn’t do anything either.
· It seems to me that they all have something to do with us believing in them, and the tension we feel before partaking in them. The slide too, has us worried before I do it. I believe that Höller is trying to get a reaction out of audiences before they even attempt any of his works, that that is the real art. The object itself is then anti-climactic and useless.
· The 3rd floor had a video room that showed three screens, all of the audiences. There were different time delays on the cameras. Again, the audience is relied on to see, touch, smell, etc. To become the art. The art would not exist without the audience.
· I didn’t go in the tank of water as it would have taken too long to get dressed, etc, and I have been sick, so didn’t really want to go lie in warm water.
· The chair swing was also anti-climactic. People must associate them with going fast and soaring, but this one goes slower than walking. The illusion of fun is there in the gold and mirrored reflections of light, but none of the actual feeling. I think Höller plays with our emotions and sense memory a lot in this exhibition.
· On the 4th floor, where the slide started, there was a cue of people in helmets. People were doing this again and again.
· I was in line, ready to go, but I think the lights and the heat of the building got to me. I also hadn’t eaten much, so I was feeling a bit sick. I took the elevator down. I would have loved to have gone down the slide, but didn’t want to risk my stomach.
· Overall, the experience was just that, an experience. I can look at it objectively and weigh up what I learned. I did learn something about the artist, and I am better for it. I didn’t necessarily love the exhibition, but I liked that he is different and trying art his way. I think it’s important that people are doing that. I’m interested to see what he comes up with next.
I left with Mandy, Cassie, Megan and Emma. We went to find the Marc Jacobs store on Bleeker St. We got a bit lost following Mandy, the only one who had been there before, but I like getting lost. We eventually found the store, which was directly opposite The Magnolia Bakery. The bakery from Sex and the City. Cassie was very excited and ate a red velvet cupcake. I just got a hot chocolate.
I bought a $3 ring from Marc Jacobs...crazy! The other girls spent more money; I think they were buying presents for people. We left and headed for the subway station. They all went back to the hostel room, but I went to Century 21 on Cortlandt St. I found new leather and cashmere gloves and a Calvin Klein dress. Very happy J
I then met Lochlan and some of the others on the train back to the hostel. I went to get a slice of eggplant pizza for dinner and then came back to the room. By that time it was nearly 9 o’clock. I managed to catch the Rockefeller tree lighting on the big screen tv downstairs with Ash and Lizzie.
I have spent the rest of the night writing this journal entry.
I think I will go down to the 9/11 Memorial tomorrow morning and see what else I can get up to before meeting everyone at The Whitney museum on the East Side.
Night!
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