You expect this of LA – to blend crass commercialism with revered institution without giving it a second thought. But Brooklyn? Yes, Brooklyn. The Dali-esque Japanese anime artist – Takashi Murakami (Dali = inscrutability and self-promotionalism) was invited to show his work at the Brooklyn Museum (the institution that lives to shock) in ©Murakami. And with him came Louis Vuitton – this partner and licensee of bags.
The placing of a Louis Vuitton shop selling $10,000 handbags in the middle of a museum outraged many. Rumor has it that many staff members have handed in resignations because of similar antics by president Arnold Lehman, the man who brought Sensation (the Saatchi collection) to Brooklyn in 2000 thus causing a morally outraged Mayor Guiliani to shut down the museum thus turning it into the hottest museum in America).
For the opening of ©Murakami, the museum, in yet another maverick display, recreated the lower east side in its parking lot where you could peruse the array of $10 knockoffs of $10,000 Murakami bags. (note: one LV bag fetches $43,000).
So the artist brand question is this: what is the difference between selling an article of clothing or a painting by the same artist? I don’t get it. It’s all art. The article of clothing is just art that’s a lot more public. And the museum brand question is: must museums be stuffy places that only attract overeducated, middle aged tourists? Brooklyn Museum is home to just about everyone these days. And I mean EVERYONE!
Let me know what you think!
One Comment
“It’s all art. The article of clothing is just art that’s a lot more public.”
I think Andy Warhol addressed this difference between street and gallery once, saying something to the effect, ‘that it was exactly the same “art”, but that only the location and context of being downtown on Canal Street, or uptown in a Boutique made the price difference. So, as an artist he wanted to sell his work uptown where it would go for more.’
I really think Andy said it best, wherever the commercial and art intersect. And where does it not intersect these days?
“An artist is somebody who produces things that people don’t need to have, but that he — for some reason — thinks it would be a good idea to give them. Why do people think artists are special? It’s just another job. I’ve decided something: Commercial things really do stink. As soon as it becomes commercial for a mass market it really stinks. I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want to own.”
On blogging before there was such a thing:
“Don’t pay any attention to what they write about you. Just measure it in inches.”