I seem to have had a week when modern art, contemporary, whatever you would
like to call it, has come to my notice.
My daughter and I had a lovely day at Federation Square, where we
appreciated all kinds of different styles, forms and presentations. One
piece that caught the eye was a lounge room with orange and pink shag
carpet, orange and pink (contemporary) chairs and a moving, lighted
mechanical whatisname on the wall! I would have liked to have sat in the
chairs and watched the moving parts for a while – but I was too scared of
the everpresent security guards – who had just chased off some children who
had the same idea!
Then it was off to the ballet with Sharon to see the Three Musketeers – very
well done and enjoyable. But why were there two toilets on the landing half
way down the stairs where we sat to have coffee? Admittedly they were very
fancy toilets indeed with arm rests, levers, dials and whatnot. They were
not in use, so we assumed after some thought that they were an art
installation.
Then on Thursday at the Maroondah Gallery (see details in “Around the
Galleries”) I saw Reflectors 2003.( Maroondah Gallery always has very
different exhibitions – the most memorable of which involved about 10
kilograms of white chocolate buddies). A few items in this exhibition are
worth describing. In the foyer there was a sphere at least 6’ in diameter
made from rusty metal plates beautifully riveted together. A hole in one
side allowed a view of the metal rods and struts holding it together. Oh
well, press on regardless, thought I! Inside the gallery the main floor was
inhabited by what seemed to be stationary people – which it was. Vertical
perspex rectangles had transparencies of folks printed on them. Quite
creepy, as they were life-sized and seemed to be looking at me! On the walls
I saw perspex boxes stuffed with more people – they were like soft toys made
out of material printed with figures, cut out, stuffed and sewn up.
In the second room I noticed the well-known ten green bottles. Ten bottles
were covered in soft green pile material and were standing on a shelf
covered in the same. A bookshelf housed a collection of utensils carved out
of wax; jugs, mugs, vases and an ashtray with two cigarette butts in it.
Make of all this what you will, at least I remembered it, and some things
were amusing, some disturbing and very unusual.
What do you think of modern art, contemporary art, the latest art
installations etc? Please write to
wavarts@yahoo.com and let us know your views.
