~STEFAN SAGMEISTER/BANANA WALL
STEFAN SAGMEISTER, ‘Self-Confidence Produces Fine Results’, Banana Wall, 10,000 bananas and glue, dimensions variable, ‘THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IN MY LIFE SO FAR’, DEITCH PROJECTS, 76 GRAND ST., January 31-February 23, 2008/PHOTO COURTESY: DEITCH PROJECTS
. . . and no, you don’t want this particular piece, no matter how gorgeous, initially – in your home – because, yes! those are real bananas, and yes, they will rot.
in fact, you better go see this piece right away – before it completely turns black and turns to ooze. The optimum time to have seen it – was at the opening. It was beautiful, no doubt about it – the contrast between the already yellow bananas, and the not-ripe-yet, green ones, spelled out – this (to-be fleeting) message: ‘SELF-CONFIDENCE PRODUCES FINE RESULTS’. it looked like a huge patchwork quilt – with the 3-D curved forms of the bananas – (in short spanned vertical rows of oppositely waving/undulating rhythms!) adding to the sense of a 3-D quilt-like object – and the simple border pattern of repeating ‘stars’ – embellishing the illusion – on the perfectly proportioned wall. Even then, because of the sheer scale of the ‘design‘ – one could only really decipher the words – from a distance – further away on the other side of the room, or even better, from the vantage point – in one’s digital camera screen.
Only 5 days later, when we returned to see if those were really bananas, or hi-end fakes .. indeed the message was gone, all the bananas having already turned a uniform yellow, and some ominously gaining in black.
did we say, here was an aggressive artist – as well as an ambitiously profound one ?
it was the 4th element – shock – back in play. seemingly like the ‘black truffles’ got to be in a hi-end restaurant menu – the shock element – gotta be in the high end art !!
ok. the formaldehyde DAMIEN HIRSTS were exciting (the first time around), (we’re not about to go all the way back thru art history to DuCHAMP!). URS FISCHER’s excavated pit was really and truly thrilling, and dangerous – no matter what anybody says. and if you managed to avoid being thrown into social ostracism as a pervert – for giving your niece a PATRICK McCARTHY CHOCOLATE SANTA – it was one big joke.
but personally I’m drawing the line at a hot room full of rotting bananas. no matter how much I want to see the rest of the work in the room. well, since I’ve seen it twice now, no big deal for me. I can’t stand the smell of one barely over-ripe banana in my kitchen for more than 24 hrs. better go see the show – QUICK !! and then one last time, the last day of the show – just out of sheer morbid curiosity. who cares what it really means – symbolically – the world’s decline isn’t going to be stopped by a few recycling posters – oops! – I guess that means I do really care what it means !! better enjoy the luxury of man made beauty – while you can. all organic things die in their time – one of the lessons SAGMEISTER has learned in his lifetime so far, that he is passing on ?
STEFAN SAGMEISTER, THE BANANA WALL – AT THE OPENING – JAN 31, 2008
STEFAN SAGMEISTER, THE BANANA WALL – AT THE OPENING – JAN 31, 2008
(loved this shot – cause it almost spelled out – QUILTS !!)
STEFAN SAGMEISTER, THE BANANA WALL – AT THE OPENING – JAN 31, 2008
STEFAN SAGMEISTER, THE BANANA WALL – AT THE OPENING – JAN 31, 2008
5 DAYS LATER, STEFAN SAGMEISTER, THE BANANA WALL, FEB 7, 2008
5 DAYS LATER, STEFAN SAGMEISTER, THE BANANA WALL, FEB 7, 2008
ABOVE 6 PHOTOS: NANCY SMITH
DEITCH PROJECTS