I was extremely fascinated, and actually mesmerized, by Kenny Scharf’s Cosmic Closet installation at MoMA’s Club 57 exhibit. It is a psychedelic experience, overwhelming with bright colors, fluorescent lighting, and unfamiliar shapes. I appreciate this piece of art as a unstructured, flamboyant response to the austere art forms he grew up being taught to pursue. It is certainly unexpected and carries a physiological response that requires viewers to take a step back and adjust to their new environment. It is also contrasting to more traditional art forms because it makes ordinary objects, even ones that may be dysfunctioning, art. There is perhaps no setting better to create this experience than a nightclub. Although Scharf promotes this as art, Cosmic Closet undoubtedly takes roots in the nightclub scene. This fit into the greater scheme of the exhibit because it exemplifies the social nature of art in New York City. In a sense, Scharf is saying that art is a way for people to get together and enjoy. I respect that MoMA chose to capture a typically underrated and lesser-known scene of NY history, and am especially glad they included this particular piece.
I agree. Walking into the Cosmic Closet was like stepping into a whole other world. When I first saw it, I had to step outside again and get used to it, and then go back in lol. I also think it captures the identity and experience of Club 57 as well, as the club is just a mishappen amalgamation of identities, cultures, and beliefs. Every single piece in the Closet had its own identity, but when put in the room it became lost in the crowd, combining into an essence of identity that it could only achieve together with the other pieces.