Just a brief post with a couple photos from the Jeff Koons exhibit at Versailles…
(I’m in Paris for a few weeks working on a video project on NYC Ballet’s tour here.)
Hearing the tourists who weren’t expecting the exhibit go on and on about how inappropriate it was, was almost as fun as viewing it.
tonya
Interesting! Those dogs have taken over
Why did the tourists think it was inappropriate? Because it’s so modern?
Sep 15, 2008 @ 15:18
brian
i would imagine that is the point of the sculptures being placed in Versaille. It is inappropiate so it challenges you to think about the pairing of objects. I bet peanut butter and jelley was crazy too when it first invented:P
B
Sep 15, 2008 @ 17:12
Milt
I’m curious about the “inappropriate” part also. I remember a big fuss at the University of Arizona about school sponsored art on campus. People complained that it was a waste of money. I like the giant balloon animals.
Sep 15, 2008 @ 17:18
Gwenny
People in Arizona don’t understand anything unless it is along the lines of a Remington sculpture. Anything else is a “waste”. That is one of the things I don’t like about living here, even tho Arizona is a beautiful state. I’m spoiled, having grown up near Philadelphia where art is everywhere. Here, unless it is a depiction of a horse, cowboy or cacti, it isn’t “art”.
Sep 15, 2008 @ 20:01
mbb
i think it’s awesome. but yes, here in az we don’t have alot of “culture” but i love it too!!
Sep 15, 2008 @ 20:34
brian
how many people from Arizona read this site:)
B
Sep 16, 2008 @ 01:34
jennifer
art should make people laugh. i think it’s brilliant! thanks for the photos!
Sep 16, 2008 @ 03:52
Katy Callie
Giant balloon animals in Versailles?! I want to go!
And ohhhh the Arizona cliches…Don’t get the wrong impression, kids, there’s far more here than horses, cowboys and cacti.
Sep 16, 2008 @ 06:18
tonya
Haha, I second Brian’s question! I never knew ballet was so popular in my home state
I’m surprised at what Milt said, though, because I remember Tucson being a lot more liberal and arty than the rest of the state, or certainly than Phoenix. But I haven’t lived there for 16 years, so have no idea what it’s like now… There’s supposed to be an artist’s colony in Bisbee…
Sep 16, 2008 @ 16:35
Katy Callie
Tonya - you’re absolutely right. I just moved from Tucson to Phoenix and Tucson is wayyyy more liberal for some reason.
Sep 16, 2008 @ 16:52
Milt
I wish I could have my current job and have it in Tucson. The “controversial” art was back when I was an undergrad (back before man had hair). It was student protest. Yes Tucson is more liberal than Phoenix, then and now. Both of them are old world strongholds of culture compared to Las Vegas (my current home). I love the balloon animals and still can’t figure out what about them was so controversial.
Sep 17, 2008 @ 02:36
kathy
I think if Marie Antoinette were around today, she’d have those balloon animals in Versailles! Perfect fit.
Sep 17, 2008 @ 03:24