last weekend we finally made it to denver's museum of contemporary art. i've heard mixed reviews of the museum's new building. i really liked it. and the museum in general. i especially loved the maori art house by rangi kipa.
i particularly liked how the color popped against the white.
my favorite piece, however, was legend, a video installation by artist, candice breitz. she filmed 30 jamaicans singing the songs on bob marley's legend album. each person was filmed separately but the videos are all shown together. the result is fascinating. i enjoyed hearing how the voices meshed (when we walked into the museum we thought we heard a live choir) and how the participants moved and "interacted" with the others.
overall, i liked how the art in the museum was accessible to folks who like art, but may not have degrees in art history. i do like to be challenged, but during a recent visit to the new new museum in new york, i found i was challenged to the point of not being able to enjoy many of the pieces for which i wasn't provided an explanation.
the exhibit we saw there was called, unmonumental: the object in the 21st century and consisted of sculptures made with found objects. overall, it was interesting to see how the work in an established and prestigious museum looked a lot like "outsider" art sculpture, providing one more argument for why the term "outsider art" may not be a valid one. some of the pieces, however, were very difficult to understand. it's interesting that the photos shown on the museum's website are all of more accessible pieces, such as elefant by isa genzken (above). this sculpture reminded my mom of a creature in a child's room who comes alive once the lights are turned off. she was thinking of a horse. it seems isa was thinking of a pachyderm.
it's nice to read about a show that was approachable and good....
:)
Posted by: lisa s | January 16, 2008 at 05:00 PM
it's just what you say: lots of modern art is not approachable, if the makers of the exhibition don't give you "further information", like an interview with the artist etc. So most people will again and again visit the artists they already know....
I like this video- project a lot!!
Posted by: Uschi | January 17, 2008 at 12:42 AM
Looks like you had a really great day!!
It's good that it was approachable for people who love art but do not have a degree in art history or any of that kind. I share your opinion that it's nice to be challenged but that it has to be enjoyable aswell. This looks like either of that kind. I really love that idea of the videoproject, i love it that there is some kind of seperate-togetherness in it hee hee does that make sense??
Have a nice day!!!
xxxxx Les
Posted by: Les | January 17, 2008 at 08:23 AM
Great post! I especially think that the legend piece would have been fantastic to see!!! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Blaze | January 17, 2008 at 09:08 AM
Loved reading thru this post - thanks for taking us round.
Enjoy your guests..maybe i will pop over later too :) xxx
Posted by: julie | January 18, 2008 at 04:18 AM
Now saw a dancer, draped backwards over a chair...head thrown back...hmmmm
I haven't been to the new contemporary art museum yet..must go.
I hope the Legend piece is still there when I finally make it. Is it permanent I wonder?
Posted by: stephanie | January 18, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I would LOVE to have seen the Legend video installation....sounds unique and I love Marley, so this would've been quite cool. Wish they had stuff like that here in Vegas! What's wrong with this town??
Jen Ramos
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Posted by: jennifer ramos | January 29, 2008 at 09:03 PM