Sunday, February 21, 2010

Monumenta 2010


I took this photo at the Monumenta 2010 exhibit at Le Grand Palais. Each year Monumenta hosts the work of an artist. This year it is - well was, as the exhibit closes tonight - Christian Boltanski who covered the floor of Le Grand Palais with old garments and clothes... That's not all, he also built a mountain with them (that is what you can see in this photo) and added moaning loudspeakers at every corner. I'll be honest, even though I generally love modern art work, I really haven't been touched by this one. But a lot of people have - well so some bloggers say. Anyway, like I said, today is the last day, so if you want to find out for yourself and if you're in Paris, well... pay it a visit.

38 comments:

  1. Finally, a MUST miss exhibition!

    Tho, your photo really has a neat motion to it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your POV for this shot gives a nice echo of the mound of clothing shap in the lines of the glass roof's structure. I guess art always makes us think. . .perhaps not in ways the artist conceives, but in whatever we bring to experiencing the work. Here in the US a lot of the available clothing to buy has been manufactured under questionable labor conditions in other countries by people earning very little to manufacture goods cheaply for people who have quite a lot already and don't really need the goods. Both views of the mountain (people groaning under the weight of a mountain of abundance and people struggling to make a wage through creating the unneeded mountain of stuff) kinda makes for a lot of moaning and groaning all the way around. Very cool photo!
    -Kim

    ReplyDelete
  3. PS- on further reflection, this art installation is probably just a statement on the state of my laundry. . .:-).
    -Kim

    ReplyDelete
  4. I really didn't understand this work of art until I read Kim's posts. And I agree with both of them :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the lines in the photo, but admit that I wasn't about to be taken with the art. But Kim, your post has taken me a lot closer to appreciating it. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the photo—and also what Kim had to say. Must admit, though: This does remind me that I really need to do laundry.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yes, the ever present mountain of laundry is all that I can think of right now....

    ReplyDelete
  8. Eric, your photo of the work may be more interesting than the work itself. Coupled with Kim's interpretation, I think what we have here is a work of art!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I was going to ask for my 6 euros back - instead I went home and did my laundry.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh yeah, it takes a lot of creativity to come up with this kind of "art". If that makes him an artist, than every teenaged boy in the world is an artist.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oui, I heard of this exhibit before it opened, and I too, am not impressed with its artistic merit.

    It would be way cool if Boltanski gave those clothes to 3rd World, homeless, or any destitute countries and/or people. The cost for putting on an exhibit like this is such an extravagance of money spending, such a slap in the face to humanity. I really do not think this "artist" is someone really needed -- actually, the artist is an embarrassment. People can go on and on about the philosophy behind this piece, but the money factor spent is such a glowing ugliness -- that it makes the general public look away, and tell me, artists are not needed. Yes, a man said that to me. Of course it was in the text of a conversation at a show wherein my guest was a nurse from Taiwan. He said, in contrast, she, meaning the nurse, is so needed.

    ReplyDelete
  12. PS: I am a fashion diva, and when I tire of clothing, I pack it up and send it to destitute countries. Where they are so poor, you wouldn't believe what the children wear, or do not wear for that matter. Or, I give the clothes to local organizations in the US where they help the impoverished and abused.

    Yes, it's the old saying "I am putting my money where my mouth is".

    ReplyDelete
  13. Bravo Lois and Kim...oh, and you too Eric! ;-) It is certainly a unique perspective of how clothes, like people, get wrinkled with time.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love the photo and Kim's comment. Art is highly subjective already but a lot of what passes for modern "art" ahem.. well, let's just say that it's hard to take every single thing seriously.

    Personally, the minute I saw this pile, I immediately thought I should go do my laundry, so if that was the "thought provoking" goal, then mission accomplished on my end.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You can see this same exhibit any day of the week on the back loading dock of my local Goodwill Store where the workers are sorting the clothing donations and the radio is blaring.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'll be honest, here and in Paris I often feel we are all being RIPPED OFF by so called "artists' or "artistes". Some I can appreciate, but a lot I think is bunch of ....
    you know! This is one of them. Glad I didn't lay down any euros on this one .

    ReplyDelete
  17. This could start a whole new trend. To get this much clothes, his advertising for it must have been very successful. If the clothing in some form can be donated to or used for charity, what other items could he use for a sculpture and then use them to help charity. Maybe tinned food.

    ReplyDelete
  18. is art only for beauty and good thoughts? the blog post on this exhibit has raised much interesting dialogue (lois simon, kim), perhaps that is the point of art? Boltanski has some fascinating work on death, life, and the abused. perhaps this is not the most beautiful or sane work he has done, but.... maybe we need to be pushed in other ways. i do not always enjoy his work, but looking at the career of his art brings many new ideas to my mind.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you so much for posting this great article, I am so interested on what I read, good and useful content about Monumenta 2010.

    ReplyDelete
  20. To be a noble human being is to be enduring a amiable of openness to the mankind, an skill to trust uncertain things beyond your own pilot, that can lead you to be shattered in uncommonly exceptional circumstances pro which you were not to blame. That says something exceedingly weighty about the fettle of the ethical passion: that it is based on a trust in the uncertain and on a willingness to be exposed; it's based on being more like a plant than like a jewel, something somewhat fragile, but whose mere particular attractiveness is inseparable from that fragility.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Advice in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road the nearer we approach to our journey's end.
    [url=http://www.blurty.com/users/accutro5573/]Watches[/url]
    Watches

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi there,
    Really nice job,There are many people searching about that now they will find enough sources by your tips.
    Also looking forward for more tips about that

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thank you for sharing to us.there are many person searching about that now they will find enough resources by your post.I would like to join your blog anyway so please continue sharing with us

    ReplyDelete
  24. Really great post, Thank you for sharing This knowledge.Excellently written article, if only all bloggers offered the same level of content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Please keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I really enjoy reding your posts as I learn a lot from them. I also broaden my thinking as far as what I can use and do with things

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thank you for sharing to us Please one more post about that..

    ReplyDelete
  27. Pretty insightful post. Never thought that it was this simple after all. I had spent a good deal of my time looking for someone to explain this subject clearly and you’re the only one that ever did that.Keep it up.

    ReplyDelete
  28. A compliment for this mad side. Actually I knocked through chance on that and thought myself to leave behind a nice entry and many greetings.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Your Escort Agency offers exclusive and most beautiful London escort girls of various nationalities.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I want to appreciate the author. I loved to read that. Thank you so much for sharing the post with all.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Bestescort4U agency provids best London escorts companionship in the UK.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm still learning from you, but I'm trying to achieve my goals. I certainly enjoy reading all that is posted on your blog.Keep the information coming. I loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  33. It's really beautiful work.Thanks for this kind of stuff.I mean I am totally impressed.Hope to see more updated work here.I have to say, it is very informative.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi, nice post. I have been wondering about this topic,so thanks for sharing. I will certainly be subscribing to your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  35. That's really massive exposure post and I must admire you in this regard.

    ReplyDelete