cultural thoughts on exhibition

Jeff Koons’s controversial installation at Versailles, France

People up in arms about displaying American modern contemporary art in such a revered, historical space such as Versailles, a quintessentially French national and cultural symbol.


What people think about his exhibit
http://artobserved.com/2008/09/go-see-jeff-koonss-controversial-installation-at-versailles-france-through-december-14/

The New York Times headline reads At Versailles, an Invasion of American Art

Elaine Sciolino writes:
America has invaded the gilded chambers and sculpted gardens of the Château de Versailles in the form of an exhibition by the American superstar artist Jeff Koons. Versailles in recent years has displayed only a few select works of contemporary artists. The exhibition of 17 Koons sculptures marks the first time that the chateau built by Louis XIV has organized so ambitious a retrospective of one contemporary artist. The exhibit, which opened on Wednesday, will continue until Dec. 14

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/09/11/arts/design/20080911_KOONS_SLIDESHOW_index.html

His work remains largely veiled by mystery precisely because the artist rarely give himself away to criticize the colourful and superficial world he depicts.

Koons does not condemn the system but observes it, deconstructs it and plays with it creating his own rules.

The 'Pop' World no longer suggests fantasy (as in the sixties) but reality: middle class America has now attained a greater level of prosperity in which consumerism is the greatest common denominator.

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In Alison Chernick's one-hour documentary about Jeff Koons she comments:
'I do find his approach opportunistic, taking Warhol's more astute and "observational" approach to pop culture - an approach that highlighted the rapidity and ubiquity of mass production - and perverting it through the obscene amounts of money and time spent "perfecting" otherwise disposable artifacts from American pop culture'.

'Koons has a uniquely American point of view, capturing the essence of pop culture and converting into pieces that are bright, colorful, and popular'.

'one of the more ridiculous manifestations of the already lazy and indulgent era of post-modernism'. - commenting on Koon's production process/ choice of materials

All of Koons' art enshrines elements of American pop culture in forms that are inert, gargantuan, and "perfect."