A huge, flower covered puppy welcomes visitors of the architecturaly unique Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. This Puppy was designed by the postmodern artist Jeff Koons in 1992, who rarely produces his own art.
Both the puppy and the museumbuilding can be seen as tourist attractions. On the one side there is one that takes itself quite seriously, and the other that could be a joke, but in it's ironicism gets the serious approach just as much. Jeff Koons claims to make people feel good about themselves with his art, and what could be a more positive feeling picture than that of a massive dog made from a dizzying amount of colourful flowers on a sunny day?
The museum in Bilboa might have succesfully been built to bring tourists to what used to be a smog covered mining city, also known as the Bilbao-effect, it appears to be less succeful in it's purpose. As a museum, it functions as a place where art is supposed to be placed in the spotlights. In this case, the deconstructed architectural design by Frank Gehry is criticised for overshadowin most of the works that are shown. The building has become a shiny, assymetrical icon since 1997, but what about the art?
Its connection with the well-known Guggenheim museum in New York means there is very little autority on exhibitions from the Bilbao museum itself and mainly showing modern and contemporary art from American artists, that could be interchangeable with much of the collection of its American sister.
Both the puppy and the museumbuilding can be seen as tourist attractions. On the one side there is one that takes itself quite seriously, and the other that could be a joke, but in it's ironicism gets the serious approach just as much. Jeff Koons claims to make people feel good about themselves with his art, and what could be a more positive feeling picture than that of a massive dog made from a dizzying amount of colourful flowers on a sunny day?
The museum in Bilboa might have succesfully been built to bring tourists to what used to be a smog covered mining city, also known as the Bilbao-effect, it appears to be less succeful in it's purpose. As a museum, it functions as a place where art is supposed to be placed in the spotlights. In this case, the deconstructed architectural design by Frank Gehry is criticised for overshadowin most of the works that are shown. The building has become a shiny, assymetrical icon since 1997, but what about the art?
Its connection with the well-known Guggenheim museum in New York means there is very little autority on exhibitions from the Bilbao museum itself and mainly showing modern and contemporary art from American artists, that could be interchangeable with much of the collection of its American sister.
Jeff Koon might be the perfect example of the American ideal in art, having worked for stock exchange and having a good look into economics and the art trade as well as advertising, he seems to manage to produce (or let workers in his studio produce that is) art that diffuses the line between high art and approachable kitsch that's easy to consume for any viewer. Using materials that derive from the kitsch scene, like porcelain and wood, and subject from popular culture, his work is recognisableas an escape from everyday politics and hardships. It shows that not all art shown in museums has to be taken so seriously all the time.
Koons' Puppy appears to be the complete opposite from the massive building right behind it, with it's hard, broken, metal surfaces, uneven lines and over all dynamic design. The Puppy sits still, showing its soft, floral surface in full innocence to the tourists they collaborately attract.
Koons' Puppy appears to be the complete opposite from the massive building right behind it, with it's hard, broken, metal surfaces, uneven lines and over all dynamic design. The Puppy sits still, showing its soft, floral surface in full innocence to the tourists they collaborately attract.
#flowersnotviolence