Tuesday, November 1

Experiencing Art

I have been in one Carston Holler installation, his "Upside Down Mushroom Room" at the LA MOCA's Ecstasy exhibit a few years ago. I say I was in the exhibit because that is what his installations are about, being inside the experience. Many artists produce something that you are expected to observe, but never touch. Holler creates an interactive experience that allows the viewer to partake in an artistic experiment. His work is like something from a sociology class; Holler presents a situation that alters the norm and simply asks the museum goer to contemplate what "normal" really is. Not to say that there is no controversy in this, in fact, this article discusses how his current installation has become somewhat of a logistical nightmare. I would still love to check it out though. Anyone want to fly me to New York?