Art museums have traditionally been a way of preserving and displaying art and culture. Many of them exhibit what one might consider a “traditional” layout- a several story building with walls lined with visual art. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is unique not only due to the type and variety of art on display, but because of its very nature and infrastructure. It can be argued that the building itself is a work of art.
Since its opening in 1959, The Guggenheim was known for its wide array of modern, abstract, and avant garde art. By nature, these forms of art have always been controversial and compelling- perhaps due to people’s inability to pin down or understand the artists’ intent. Upon entering the museum, a feeling of wonder comes over the viewer. Its spiraling stairs and walls naturally lead the eye to the paneled skylight at the top of the building, illuminating the entire structure. This choice of architecture mimics the style of art on display, pushing against the tide of the expected, the known, and the mundane. It tells the story of the founders and their passion for breaking the confines of the existing standards for art. In fact, I would argue that the creation of this building and curation of the art that it holds is one of the reasons modern art is as widely accepted today as it is. The unique structure and collection of this building speaks of the changes in the art culture of American society- a step away from the rigid standards art was once held to to the largely inclusive, progressive, and constantly evolving culture that it is today.
Our guide gave us a very heartfelt and compelling tour of the first two floors of the museum. He was knowledgeable, but more importantly, immersed in the works of art he was presenting. While I didn’t agree with all of his interpretations or thoughts on the art, it made me appreciate the inherent subjectivity of said interpretations. Two people looking at the same work of art can hardly ever have the same thoughts on it. Listening to others’ perspectives allows us to open our minds and hearts to ways of thinking we never could have imagined on our own. It is said that one cannot imagine a color that they have never seen before. Much in the same way, we cannot synthesize the same thoughts that others can when we have never seen with their mind’s eye.
Profound
Abstract
Van Gogh
If I were to create a museum, I would ensure that the building itself would command the attention and interest of those that visit (not unlike the Guggenheim). It would reflect the ever changing and growing nature of art. To do this, I would attempt to exhibit pieces that represented the most cutting edge and progressive forms and examples of art of every time period. This would allow the viewer to appreciate not only the art itself, but the culture and understanding surrounding it. In this way, the museum would display changes in society’s ways of thinking. Perhaps, in turn, this would lead to an even wider range of what can be considered and appreciated as art.
Veronica Funk
