-
We were disturbed to learn this week of the illness of Jeffrey D. Wassmann, Kaufman Director of the Wassmann Institute, Washington, and an authority on the work of Johann Dieter Wassmann.
According to Sophie Vogt, Director of MuseumZeitraum Leipzig, Mr Wassmann suffered heart failure while on a visit to Australia and will undergo surgery in Melbourne next week. See http://museumzeitraum.blogspot.com/ for further information.
All of us at the Museum of Electrical Philosophy wish him a speedy recovery.
-
Monday, May 26, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Back to the Nicholas Building
And so we packed it all up and went on our way again.
Well not quite all. Face Crumpets Inwards has stayed at Latrobe Street for a while longer, only instead of hanging on an internal wall it now has a window seat, looking out to the street to amuse the passers-by. And interestingly after only a day or two in its new position it had aroused interest. According to our friend Bion, a couple came in and complained to him that it was setting a dangerous example to impressionable children who might be tempted to emulate the fork and spoon trick. And die. And even if it's art this was going Too Far.
This seems to raise a couple of interesting points. First, the nature of the work may have been changed by its physical position. When it was inside the white cube the context said this is art and normal rules may not apply; but put it in the window facing the street and for some people it's just an electrical appliance, same as in Myer's kitchen department where you can be sure they would not treat a serious matter like electrical safety so lightly.
Secondly, the motor in the toaster wasn't working that day so the kinetic effect was missing. That shouldn't really alter the work but I guess in combination with the street location it was another step towards looking like a dodgy cutlery holder rather than a not-drowning-waving entertainment.
As for the other pieces, they are mostly back in the Museum with the Foucault twins now installed in the door spot where the seem to be entertaining the other inhabitants of the 6th floor, not to mention Andre's jewellery customers, and Dimitri and Tim in the lifts.
Well not quite all. Face Crumpets Inwards has stayed at Latrobe Street for a while longer, only instead of hanging on an internal wall it now has a window seat, looking out to the street to amuse the passers-by. And interestingly after only a day or two in its new position it had aroused interest. According to our friend Bion, a couple came in and complained to him that it was setting a dangerous example to impressionable children who might be tempted to emulate the fork and spoon trick. And die. And even if it's art this was going Too Far.
This seems to raise a couple of interesting points. First, the nature of the work may have been changed by its physical position. When it was inside the white cube the context said this is art and normal rules may not apply; but put it in the window facing the street and for some people it's just an electrical appliance, same as in Myer's kitchen department where you can be sure they would not treat a serious matter like electrical safety so lightly.
Secondly, the motor in the toaster wasn't working that day so the kinetic effect was missing. That shouldn't really alter the work but I guess in combination with the street location it was another step towards looking like a dodgy cutlery holder rather than a not-drowning-waving entertainment.
As for the other pieces, they are mostly back in the Museum with the Foucault twins now installed in the door spot where the seem to be entertaining the other inhabitants of the 6th floor, not to mention Andre's jewellery customers, and Dimitri and Tim in the lifts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
