This post is about art, despite its appearance of a pornographic rant.
One year ago, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Chicago displayed the glorious work of Jeff Koons. Now, if you are not familiar with this particular artist, I will try to explain his work the best I can: FLIPPING FANTASTIC. Not only are his photorealistic pieces beyond unfathomable, but his attitude radiates from everything he creates. His "sass," as I refer to it, gives me giggles (Michael Jackson and Bubbles, anyone?). His paintings are not only complex, but so "mish-moshed" that it takes at least a full minute to figure out what the hell is actually in front of you. And his titles? Do not even get me started on those. Absurd. really.
Anyway, after I viewed his paintings in the first room (and being thoroughly impressed, might I add) I migrated to the next. Little did I know I would get a face-full of cleanly waxed vagina (and anal regions) and penis, penis, penis. This stuff was triple X! He actually had a piece depicting his own personal man-parts inserting into the model's vagina! (Thankfully he knew her. It was his ex-wife.) Now, I discuss this on a number of different levels: 1. How the hell does he get away with this? 2. Why am I so fascinated? and 3. How the hell does he get away with this?! Where is this fine line between tasteful artistic nudes and flat-out HARD CORE PORN? Is there a line? I'm really not sure.
Now, I am not saying that these pieces changed my mind about Jeffery, here. I still get the same sense of inferiority when I stand 2 feet away from his canvas, but I just want to know why he needed that "HOLY FUCK" factor (pardon my French) when he already achieved it with his paintings.
You must see for yourself.
Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging! lol. Yeah, I remember that exhibit, he had some pretty amazing work, and then again, some of it was pretty out there.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that artists like Koons employ so many assistants is troubling though... i still believe an artist must not only originate the idea but also execute the work to a certain degree, (except for monumental sculptures of course) and not pay others to create the work, then come along later and sign it. Kostabi is another artist who used to paint, then found it easier to pay others minimum wage to conceive and execute works for him.
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