Exhibitions Seen in NYC II

MOMA.

THE ARTIST IS PRESENT MARIA ABROMOVIC. Main installation on the lower floor one sees the artist at a table across from a member of the public in a staged and artificially lit setting. Members of the public are welcome to to become part of the work by watching. Part of the purpose is for Abromovic to becomes a sculptural presence. The words on the wall say that'performance is an invitation to engage in and complete a uninque experience'. My first thoughts when observing or 'experiencing' the uncomfortable juxtaposition of the everyday routine with the domestic set up, with two people across a wooden table, and this idea of ceremony, the forced silence and location. I found this work, along with much of the other work in the exhibition, causing me to feel awkward, sensing the odd tension between the reality of what the viewers experienced and the expectations. similarly there is an uncomfortable and charged tension between the artist and the other participant, as Abromovic stares swaying lightly back in forth and the participant serenely stares back, almost smiling.

Inside the exhibition one can see that this vulnerability to the will of the audience is something the artist constantly subjects herself to. This is seen most strongly in her piece 'rhythum 0' where she stood with a table of objects beside her including a knife, gun, and shoes and allowed the audience to do as they pleased with them. One participant loaded the gun and put into her own hand and than lifted it to her head. Other works contemplating this idea are her taking medication for cantonia and schizophrenia in front of an audience (rhythm 2), pulling herself so close to an air blower so that she loses consciousness while her viewers can still see the effect the air has on her body (rhythum 4). She wants the viewers to see her body not as necessarily a living presence but sometimes merely an object.

This idea of tension is seen in one of the works entitled 'Ulay' in which two male nudes stand opposite each other in between two rooms with just enough space for one to pass through them. Having done it myself I felt nervous initially then when walking through there was an awkwardness and a sense of tenderness brushing past these statuesque men. In another 'Ulay' two people stand with their hands out, pointing but not touching. With many of these works the onlooker almost feels empowered, as if enforcing their presence on the participant.

Other interesting works included a skeleton on top of a nude man, marking the rise and fall of his breath; there is this sense of passing time being measured until death, and 'Luminosity' in which a woman has been elevated up onto a lit wall; the work is about loneliness, I contemplated the idea that although there were many onlookers the bright lights prevented the participant from seeing them.

TIM BURTON EXHIBTION. beautiful illustrations. material inspiration- acrylic on black velvet with uv light. makes me think transferring/ emulsions. individually developed characters and stories.