Thomas Schütte: A Journey Through Perspectives

Thomas Schütte: A Journey Through Perspectives, at the MoMA

Thomas Schütte’s retrospective at the MoMA spans the entire 6th floor with moments of playfulness which dauntingly shines a flashlight on our present history. The viewer is first greeted by a large intimidating statue framed in the archway of a bright blue wall. One of the highlights of the exhibit is its display of Schütte's use of a variety of materials. Each room creates a unique environment for the work; the most notable being the watermelon room. Here, the work, Meloney, is in the center on the floor while paintings of minimalist melon slices are framed along the walls. 

Placing the work outside of the chronological order of Schütte’s career takes it out of its historical context, letting it speak to the contemporary world showing how history can inform the present. For instance, the Large Wall in its historical context drew comparisons to the Berlin Wall. Now we can apply it to the contemporary context of Trump’s agenda to build a wall. The illusion of a brick wall made from small maroon abstract paintings displayed in the pattern of a brick wall can be applied to multiple historical moments of division. 

Once one reaches the end of the exhibition a fallout shelter sits in the middle of the last room with a soundtrack playing faint sirens overtaken by a barking dog. An eerie feeling of doom and abandonment sticks with you as you exit the retrospective. The work reminds us of history and reflects back onto us how the world continues to mimic its past.

Franka Ziemann #