There are playful details that surprise viewers with humor, such as a random box of green tea hidden in the corner or several duck toys holding cigarettes in their "mouths". Despite the absence of human figures, these objects hint at unseen "owners" or "workers," encouraging viewers to imagine those lives and stories. The green tea suggests an anonymous worker who might have passed there for a break, and the cigarettes are given by workers or a naughty teenager passed by. The artist's humorous tableaus allow the audience to re-examine everyday objects with renewed curiosity and imagination.
Fischli and Weiss' work continues the spirit of Marcel Duchamp's readymade, presenting familiar, everyday objects in an art context. As the exhibition press release notes, “By removing their function, the objects are no longer enslaved by it," underscoring how alienation and recontextualization invite viewers to rethink ordinary items.
Jessy Hu#
I enjoy your ability to capture the feeling of the gallery, which sets the scene for the work you describe. Along with the description of the details of the work, and how the work comes across. I wish there was a little more visual description of the work in a big picture, in the same way you described the details and scene of the gallery. However, I enjoy how you compare the works to established works, in this example, readymades to give the viewer an idea of the work.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing this exhibit and feeling a bit confused as to what the message behind it was. Your comparison of it to Duchamp’s work and the unseen yet implied presence of humans that are meant to populate the space answers questions I had about the piece. The set-up really did look completely organic and as if it wasn’t posed, but was left there for workers to take a lunch break and return. It is very immersive. My father works in a warehouse and the industrial stillness of the room reminded me of days spent there. Very insightful analysis!
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