This morning I accompanied some of my peers on a journey to the Guggenheim located on E 88th St. & 5th Ave in the the Upper East Side. Everything went swimmingly. We got to breeze through the line of tourists and flash our Macaulay Honors IDs and be on our way. However, once we got past the front desk, we encountered a great disappointment. The halls were all covered up with thick white paper so we were not able to see into the middle, the spiral itself. Not only is it architecturally significant and breath-taking, it’s part of the whole experience of walking up the museum. We’re supposed to be able to see across the spiral and appreciate the whole experience.
The first exhibit was Hans-Peter Feldmann’s Hugo Boss Prize 2010, which is essential $100,000 in one dollar denominations, nailed onto the walls and columns of the entire room. Seeing that amount of cash plastered on the walls really puts the sum of money into perspective. I looked upon others who were in shock and awe, with the similar thoughts in their head.
Out of the exhibits that were open, I appreciated a painting called Several Circles the most. At first look, I thought it embodied the universe. The painting seemed to depict plants orbiting around an eclipsing sun. The various shades of black and grey in the background evoke the feeling of the cosmos.
Several Circles By Vasily Kadinsky (via www.guggenheim.org)