Local Art Fridays: More from the Lever House
Last week, I mentioned the Lever House, directly around the corner from the office building where I have a job not making art or writing.
The Lever House itself is considered by some to be a work of art, or at least a prime example of the International style of architecture. It is certainly a very handsome building, with its clean lines and beautiful turquoise glass panels.
The building has a courtyard, entry way and glass lobby that rotate art pieces on a regular basis. The ground level, glass-enclosed gallery usually displays an installation piece of dubious message and beauty. For example, one installation was 100 blowup Hulk dolls set in neat rows, which must have called for some extra work on someone's part because occasionally the Hulks would start to sag and fall down. The next day they'd all be hulking upright again. Another piece (which I rather liked) was called something like "Brides Fight" and it was two bridal dresses and accessories which seemed to be exploding in all directions. Unfortunately, both those exhibits were prior to my decision to post on local art, so I'm afraid you've missed out on them here.
The courtyard has some permanent and some rotating sculptures. One of the permanent sculptures in the courtyard, is the somewhat disturbing Virgin Mother by Damien Hirst:
Hirst was one of the YBAs (Young British Artists) and he made a splash -- so to speak -- back in the 90s, by displaying "art" featuring embalmed sharks floating in tanks, and a cow and calf cut in half and displayed in separate vitrine tanks. As can be seen from Virgin Mother, above, he likes seeing the insides of things. Matter of fact, his artistic career reads somewhat like those annoying artists I found so shallow as described in "Art's Blood." (Read my review.)
The Virgin Mother looks as if Hirst may have been influenced by Degas' The Little Dancer :
There's a new (odd) installation piece in the glass lobby now. I'll see if I can get a picture of it before it's gone.
Technorai Tags: Lever House, International Style, Damien Hirst, the Virgin Mother, Degas, the Little Dancer
