I have an idea for a conceptual art piece. But a digression first…
Today I went to the Princeton Art Museum with my family. Not much new stuff since I last visited, but the Felix Candela exhibit was nice. I was at the help desk at some point and the person there was explaining the museum layout to me: “Upstairs, we have 19th Century impressionists, and behind that the Frank Gehry exhibit, next to that [...] and downstairs there are more archaeological things, like Chinese art.”
“Archaeological”?!?
The downstairs area is a mess. In the Japanese art section, for example, contemporary photographs were placed alongside prints from the Edo era without any apparent significance. Oh, and even an American artist who has a Japanese name got into that mix. The other sections for “archaeological” findings were arranged in a similar hodgepodge fashion.
To bring it all back, this episode reminded me of a conceptual art idea I had, inspired by a concept I saw at the Sydney Biennale. The concept, which ended up not happening, is to rearrange the whole NSW museum: placing the Renaissance paintings in Impressionist galleries, putting Picassos in Aboriginal galleries, and so on.
But why do just that? Here is my idea:
The major art museums of the world should collectively, for a week, do some rearranging. All the “western” art that typically garner most of their attention can be crammed, with disregard, into the small spaces previously reserved for the local underrepresented art. Put Andy Warhol’s Marilyn right next to Raphael’s Madonna. Label the early Renaissance attempts at perspective “folk art” and Friedman’s sculptures “archaeological”. Oh, but keep the name of the gallries–call it “Asian Art” or “Aboriginal Art” or something equally generic. The remaining periodically-divided galleries can then be used to house the local underrepresented art of the appropriate period. If the museum has nothing from that period, then simply leave the gallery empty.
So what do you say, dear museum directors?
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P.S. to Pitchfork — Don’t forget this review.
Some recent news, I think, is really encouraging for Taiwan’s democratic model.
The former president Chen Shui-bian, who I supported for a long time, has been arrested on moneylaundering and embezzlement charges [see also NYT]. On the one hand, it is very sad to see someone who has symbolized Taiwan Consciousness movement to go down like this. On the other hand, it is really great to see that even powerful politicians are not shielded from the law. Compare: suppose that there were many inappropriate financian transactions under the Bush administration, do you think he would be prosecuted after he steps down? I hope Chen will receive a fair trial, and whatever the outcome, the fact that a legal procedure is taken is promising for the fledging democracy.
The other important issue recently is China’s delegates visiting Taiwan. Current president Ma Ying-jeou’s government has taken steps that are overaccomodating toward the Chinese delegation. Specifically, recently they granted protestors permission after a long petition process, but then moved the meeting that they are protesting to a different time. Many students and academics are rightfully now sitting-in to protest this suppression of democracy.
A sign that Taiwan Consciousness is alive and well, regardless of who is in power, is Ma’s latest approval rating: 22.6%. This quote from the article is telling: “To sum up, at least 50 to 60 percent of the public disapprove of how Ma is doing as president, believing that Ma has a serious problem of slanting toward China at the expense of Taiwan’s national sovereignty.”
For lighter fares, read My Mom is a Fob and My Dad is a Fob.
The website for 2008 WMU Graduate Conference, December 5-7, is now up.
The conference is open to papers in all areas. Submission deadline is October 15. This year, the speakers are John Doris and John Norton. I had a very positive experience at this conference last year.
