Of MoMA’s Club 59 exhibit the most intriguing installation was Kenny Scharf’s Cosmic Closet. This exhibit was so unique and I can safely say that my senses have been sufficiently overrun with the details. Everything from the different shapes, objects, colors, and lighting harmonized together to create a very different bold art. The art had no real boundary, was very abstract in the sense that the room became a conglomeration of random objects to create something psychedelic. The neon paint and the overall fluorescence is something that you might imagine to see if you are hallucinating. It is such a change and not at what I expected which meant I naturally was surprised at this choice of form and took time to digest everything that I was looking at. This is appropriate for the theme of the exhibit Club 57. This exhibit is fitting for the nightclub scene associated with the theme. You can almost imagine all the different people at the club and how they all look and represent different things and they all assume different roles. This shows how important the social aspect of art is in New York City. Just like the nightclub was a place for people, who might not necessarily have similarities, to come together and support one another; art has a similar role as art evokes a sense of community and identity. The cosmic closet, true to its name, catches the essence of Club 57 and how it was meant to create a secluded and isolated place for something novel and exciting.
Author Archives: palchurilakshmi
Posts by palchurilakshmi
MoMA’s Club 57 Exhibit
M. Butterfly
The production of M. Butterfly surprised me on so many aspects. This adaption of the story is nothing like anything I imagined, which is what makes it so unique and really makes the audience think and influences them to broaden their perspectives on the play. The set design was very intriguing, it was very minimalist in the beginning with the mobile boards and the chair and then gradually got more elaborate with more moving pieces and furniture. Despite the new props that were added in addition the set boards were always there in some ways to remind the audience that this is a flashback. The transition from scene to scene was signified by the boards so in a way they were almost like the equivalent of pages or chapters in a book. Also as the play went on the set complex, just like Song and Gallimard’s relationship and at the ending scene the set went back to being bare representing the fact that their relationship which once blossomed is now nonexistent.
Another factor of the production which interested me was the exceptional acting. The actors surprised me by breaking the 4th wall on several occasions. This occurred in the arguable cour scene climax when Gallimard says does not want to relive the court scene and also when the officer comes into Songs house and Song asks her for a baby. Gallimard desperately wants another ending for his tragic story and several times he said that he looks for one, but fails to find one. He even tried ending the story at the reunion of him and his butterfly, but Song tells him that the audience must know the entire story, not just the parts he reminisces and fantasizes about. At the end we posed with the question, we don’t know if Gallimard loves Song or really even his “butterfly.” I personally think he was just obsessed and in love with the idea of his butterfly. The fact that women would yield to him was what he subconsciously always wanted and when he saw the opportunity where his fantasy can come true, he took it. Just like Song stated when they first met, European men were infatuated with the idea that an oriental women would fall for a European and would give up her life for him. Song even suggests a role and race reversal, if European women fell for a Chinese businessman who then proceeded to betray her. Song tried to show a more raw take on the opera Madama Butterfly, but Gallimard, ever the romantic, acknowledged it but never understood it and became or took the role Madama Butterfly in the end. The ending scene where Gallimard put Madame Butterflies’ makeup on is when he realized his fate and his tragic story.
Coney Island and its Transformations
This image was taken on the boardwalk of Coney Island. When an average person thinks about Coney Island they think about the beach, the boardwalk, the amusement park and the food available there. They might not necessarily remember the abundance of murals and art found in Coney Island. This picture includes both of these aspects on Coney Island. Coney Island is a diverse area which contains landmarks which are cultural and for entertainment. This image contains the rides in the background, the boardwalk, the beach the stores and the murals which are why this picture to me seems like a comprehensive and fair way to picture Coney Island. This picture is fair, especially to display this time of year because so much of the picture consists of the expansive sky which is a calming sight, this is relaxing nature is exactly what one feels at this time of year and this time of day when visiting Coney Island.
My group visited Coney Island in the afternoon on Saturday, it was a lot more populated than the last time we visited which was before noon on Sunday, there were definitely more people and the stores were now open. The arcade was open and there was music blasting from many stores and on the boardwalk. There were many families and elderly people taking walks and some people were exercising or jogging. Although, we know that the population on Saturday wouldn’t compare to that during the summer; there was, however, a significant amount of activity going on here which we were able to get footage of like of stores and shops like Nathan’s which were full and had long lines of people waiting to order. The arcade just opened and was filled with several families. We already had pictures and some footage of the murals, but now we also have footage of activity in stores, the beach, and the boardwalk. We came across many families either sharing food or taking a walk with younger kids. In my picture, there were seagulls caught mid-flight, and often we saw kids there chasing the birds while their parents watch over them. Despite the colder weather Coney Island still had activity, this tells us that Coney Island caters to a different demographic of people depending on the day of the week, time of day, and season. It practically transforms between seasons and we were able to capture the peacefulness and relaxing nature of Coney Island during autumn.
Coney Island: A Dichotomy
Our location was Coney Island, this part of Brooklyn is a very diverse place. Coney Island transforms from a quiet relaxing area to a lively and bustling area during certain times of the year and depending on the season on certain times of the day. Coney Island has also transformed through time. This dichotomy can be seen by not only the new businesses that opened up across old and historical businesses but also through the differences in the murals found there. This picture is of an old mural which was repainted. This painting includes famous icons of the island like the Ferris wheel and of course the New York Aquarium. This is only one of the many examples of murals which were painted for the boardwalk. Near this mural were more novel murals and they had strong intrinsic messages. Often this message was about how plastic is polluting the bodies of water bordering the beach. The theme of mermaids was observed in many of the murals due to the Mermaid Parade which occurs in the summer. One particularly interesting piece of art which we found was on the faces of Coney Island which was in a weak condition.
As a group we visited Coney Island during the morning, the beach was practically empty, and the boardwalk was occupied people walking dogs, people jogging, people with small children and seniors exercising. Having visited it before later in the day, I know that the island changes into a vibrant place, now densely populated by teenagers and middle-aged adults visiting the amusement park and the museum and dining. I have never visited the island this early so the quiet and peaceful. Most of the stores were closed, and the walk and the train station and the streets surrounding it were relatively vacant. Coney Island has many dichotomies, including the murals and differences between past and present.
Sam Shepard’s Buried Child
The 1996 production of Buried Child was very successful in putting Sam Shepard’s script into action. The production did a very veritable job of following and expressing Shepard’s cues in writing and the implicit motifs. One of Shepard’s goals was to show an intensely flawed American family and his play script and the production demonstrated this very lucidly. One motif observed throughout the play is disillusionment. We see this with how Dodge and Halie two sons have never stood up to their expectations, how Dodge was a farmer but he hasn’t been a successful one for decades, also Hallie’s disappointment over Ansel and what he could have been if he had not died. We understand that this family has a weak economic situation and this is portrayed well by the set and props of the production. We see a bland worn down house and props such as a damaged TV, we see Dodge’s blanket had holes in it and they clearly did not have much furniture. Disappointment is considered a very negative mood, in this play Shepard creates a dull and/or wearisome mood. This is portrayed in the production by the dreary lighting and the way their characters speak. For example when in the beginning when Dodge speaks to his wife he coughs or smokes and we can easily tell that it is draining him to scream in reply to her constant yelling. We also notice some irony here how Halie keeps yelling from upstairs for Dodge to take his pills which will reduce his coughing, but she is making him yell and strain himself which is making the coughing worse. She clearly has the option of coming downstairs and speaking to him so he doesn’t have to exhaust his health even further, but she doesn’t. The theme of a dysfunctional family is also portrayed in the play and production. The relationships in this family are frustrating and not at all ideal. We clearly see the weak relationship between Dodge and Halie from the beginning, then we see the relationship between Tilden and Dodge is also strained as Dodge wishes that his son would support himself and not depend on him. Also traditionally Dodge is expected to make the money in the house, or at least his grown children, but neither seem to step up. Dodge is sick and does not do anything to support his family and the last time he farmed anythings was decades ago. The production made him seem depressed by showing drinking and smoking and just generally doing nothing, he seems to realize his failures with his family and their economic situation. The other relationships between the family members are also abnormal as there are many secrets are hidden in this unorthodox family dynamic. There is a lot of anger and stress in these relationships and is clearly expressed in their dialogues, as many of the conversations involve yelling. Overall the production effectively encapsulated everything that Shepard’s play intended to get across and reflected on Shephard’s themes of disillusionment and nontraditional family dynamics.
Cafe Muller and The Rite of Spring
Pina Bausch’s pieces Cafe Muller and The Rite of Spring both were so different than the dance form I am used to experiencing. That being said they were truly intriguing works of art. The Rite of Spring did strike me as the more conventional piece compared to Cafe Muller. A true challenge was trying to figure out the message she was trying to send through her two pieces. In Cafe Muller, more action generally was occurring with the younger women in a white dress, but I found myself looking towards the older women in the white dress in the corner for her reaction to the younger woman’s action. At some point, I noticed that she was repeating the younger woman’s actions, but almost lagging behind her. The younger dancer also had a male dancer helping her by removing the chairs and tables out of her way as she blindly walked or danced. The dancers were amazingly able to expertly assimilate these props into their performance throughout. I thought this was very meaningful as I believe that the theme of dependence is thoroughly evident in this piece. Also, it was interesting how the older women had no one to do this for her. I believe these chairs represented the obstacles one has to go through life and Bausch is trying to show us that life becomes easier when you have someone to help you clear the obstacles. There was a lot of repetition whether in actions, movements or in dance and this repetition added to the general mix of confusion and curiosity of the audience. As for the Rite of Spring, this piece was more orthodox as it has more uniformity and more synchronized dance. There was more conventional ballet choreography. It was interestingly done on a floor of soil and the dancers all were covered in soil by the end of the performance. The choreography made sure that there was a separation between the dancer whether it was by gender or attire. There were more rapid and sharp movements which amplified because of the great number of dancers, these movements and separation gave off the sense of aggression. In this performance, there was also a formation which had all the dancers working together at some point. I think that through this performance Pina Bausch was almost trying to tell us about traditional roles in society and rules in the society like the women at the end who wore the scarlet colored dress, and danced till her death. Through the performance, the cloth was passed from women to women and at some point men take it, but the women get it back and I thought the women were protecting it, but really they were the ones to embody it as I believe it represents sacrifice. Both performances had very similar aspects to them like repetition and the existence of gender differences, yet they couldn’t have been more different. In both Bausch is trying to send her audience an important message.
THE HIGH LINE: WHERE PAST MEETS PRESENT
The High Line is a rejuvenated part of the rich history of New York City. What was once a barren railroad track is now a beautiful repurposed elevated urban park. Even though the Highline has become a park now, its essence and charm stays true to its roots and past. The High Line has become an expression for artists of all kinds. Part of the experience of the High Line is the art that is seemingly ubiquitous throughout it. It has become a place for artists to showcase their chosen mediums. While I was walking on the High Line I was particularly captivated by these objects seemingly floating.
What the eye first travels to in the picture is those odd colorful objects, personally, I was really confused about their meaning as art which is why I decided to take a picture. I finally decided that the objects represent the different types of people who walk on the High Line, they all come in different shapes, sizes and colors. On the left side of the image, you see a new modern building which heavily juxtaposes the old vandalized building in the background. What is interesting is that on the vandalized building there is actually a famous mural titled “the floaters.” I thought that it was somewhat ironic that my picture focusses on the colorful objects rather than the famous artwork right next to it. Also to be noted is the expansive wooden walkway and the beautiful sun kissed greenery along the railing. The greenery was chosen by the designers of the High Line to reproduce the types of flora that used to exist on the old rail lines. You might also notice how the sky and the walkway are angled and sort of frame the other parts of the picture almost geometrically. Also to the right side, you might notice the blurred out people taking pictures of the artistic environment surrounding them. These people seem very small when taking the entire picture into consideration, but I view them as a significant part because they tell us part of the purpose of the High Line is. The High Line is a stage for artists and people go there to experience the art. This is what I imagine a person would perceive this exact place. The other people simply become a given part of the Highline, an extension of its essence as it was meant to be seen and appreciated. The extraneous human stimuli, like conversations between people, people taking pictures, people sitting down, are all drowned out and they simply focus on art that catches their eye whether it’s a natural form or a man-made form. While it can be a place to be alone and just enjoy some privacy it is quite the social area. People come with others to watch performances, enjoy the artwork, or simply because they backdrop for their personal pictures! The High Line is one place where humans are not the focus of the experience, the focus is heavily on nature, the artwork, the buildings-both new and old- and the unique experience the repurposed space gives to every person that sets foot on it.
Comments by palchurilakshmi
"I like that you choose to focus on another exhibit beside the Cosmic Closet. I also noticed what you mentioned about despite the theoretical lack of similarities between identities they all have one goal. Also, I agree with your observation that the artist used negative space to evoke a feeling of intimacy within the club and the people in it. It was intriguing that the artist chooses to include fictional characteristics to some of the caricatures. The flamboyance of some of their attire also interested me. The combination of all of these identities seems unlikely, but Club 57 created a secluded place which fostered that."--( posted on Dec 3, 2017, commenting on the post 57 Drawings )
"I thought that it was interesting that you mentioned that actors having aside conversations. I also was intrigued by them because they made the play seem less like a narrative and more like a person reliving their life and simultaneously trying to make sense of what happened and what could have occurred differently. Time breaking of the 4th wall made the play more real and more easy to connect with the characters as we learn important things about the characters when it happens. Also, you mentioned a transition of the Peking Chinese Opera, an artistic institution turned into a medium of propaganda. At the end of the performance, they pointed their guns directly on Gallimard symbolized the events to come. I also thought it was interesting that you still believe that Gallimard and Song still love each other even after the truth came out."
--( posted on Nov 20, 2017, commenting on the post M. Butterfly Live )
"I thought it was interesting when you said the Plaza "capitalizes on antiquity," I personally never have thought about it in this way, but it does make sense. Everyone regards the plaza with the elite and expects grandeur, luxury, and antiquity and the plaza definitely delivers to expectations. Something as outmoded as a shoe shining service conveys so much about the Plaza itself. It really does show how the Plaza uses archaic services to provide a distinct experience which displays aristocracy. When you go to the Plaza people spend money on such services because of the class it represents and it is so unlike anything the modern and technology filled world outside can accommodate. It really is interesting how you choose to focus on how unique the Plaza is and how they play to their assets and the elites expectations."
--( posted on Nov 6, 2017, commenting on the post The Plaza Pt. 2 )
"I really enjoyed your narration of being on the tram ride. As someone who has never been on it, I felt like I knew how it felt to be on it and what to expect if I did visit. I like how you also made sure to mention the ambiance of the entrance of the tram. I felt your picture encapsulated what you were saying in the first paragraph. You identified and alluded to the comparisons between the general and primary modes of transportation in New York such as buses or trains and isolated the tram as something so unique in New York yet it manages to blend in with its surrounding environment. Whether intentional or not, you also caught the tram in the vicinity of buildings so we can see exactly how well it fits into the New York setting."
--( posted on Oct 23, 2017, commenting on the post From Land To Sky )
"I like the way you symbolized Tilden walking in with the baby corpse representing the idea of this broken family. This was a powerful last scene. I also noticed that you pointed out from the very beginning the characters showed a disconnection and this was evident in virtually every relationship present in the play. You reinforced how Hallie always yells at Dodge and she is ignored by him. To me, this was a very critical piece of evidence of the superficiality and unauthenticity of their relationships. She keeps on yelling at Dodge to take his pills and in order to respond, he has to strain his voice which is weakening his health, even more, when she could just come downstairs and talk."
--( posted on Oct 9, 2017, commenting on the post Digging Deeper in the Play and Production of Buried Child )
"I also viewed it as "emotionally strenuous" as you said. As students, we were naturally inclined to try deeper meaning it everything and it was a challenge to do so for this piece due to how confusing and unorthodox it was. You also took the other audience members reactions and emotion into consideration. Also, these works were really passionate and I can tell that you understood that while simultaneously taking note of the audiences general feelings about certain parts of the performance. I also liked how you noticed the chemistry between the dancers. The audience and dancers seemed generally in sync respectively through dance and reactions."
--( posted on Sep 25, 2017, commenting on the post Abstract Emotion )
"I really like how this picture is framed, as you said I do see how the "Rule of Thirds" is present. In your analysis, you said that the colors of the three parts of the city juxtaposed each other and create an almost sleepy effect. As you said, the hurry and hastiness of New York City seemed to slow down and people were in their own little worlds up there, I also noticed this when I was there. Your picture really caught the essence of the High Line, it was able to show the totally different and peaceful environment found on it."
--( posted on Sep 12, 2017, commenting on the post The Garden Among Skyscrapers )
