Former entomologist Carsten Holler has turned his scientific experiments from bugs to humans at his show at the New Museum. The show is all about visitors' experiences and reactions, ranging from terrifying, childish delight, and unfortunately, boredom. This type of show, rarely seen in New York, definitely lived up to its title, and was successful in focusing entirely on the viewer and how they experience different environments and respond to different stimuli.
The biggest problem is that the beginning of the experience was not very well thought out. After checking your coat (and presumably your wallet too), you have to get on two lines. The first, to sign a waiver to go on the slide, goes rather quickly. The second, to sign a waiver and receive a pair of goggles that makes one see everything upside-down, is long, and requires that you leave a credit card on hold, which, if you already checked your wallet, is an annoyance. On the top floor is the mirrored carousel and the entrance to the slide. The carousel moves very slowly, and seems more of a distraction for people while waiting on another line to go down the slide. Out of the concrete floor comes a metal cylinder, which sharply inclines and then disappears down to the third floor. As people go down their screams echo off the museum’s walls. The wait is worth it. You zoom down the slide where the walls become transparent, and the visitors on the third floor can see you rocket by. The second floor has a foam landing and walls of flashing lights, which are supposed to make you hallucinate. Also on this floor is a fish tank with benches for you to lie on and a space for your head so you feel as though you are in the tank with the fish. This was relaxing and beautiful, and felt so peaceful and a total opposite to the adrenaline rush of the slide and the flashing lights. Less successful was a series of rooms on the second floor: smelling a vial of “love potion”, using a vibrator on your arm to make your nose feel larger, pressing a button to get poked in the arm, and watching a video on an ipod. There were many kinks: the lines and the contrast between works that make one feel excited and those which do not add to the show, but this type of show is important to contemporary art, and should continue to be developed. Viewer-focused shows that are meant to give a unique experience should be nurtured, not dismissed.
The first sentence is a bit awkward - although, I see what you are trying to say, I'm not sure you can experiment bug or human..also, it kinda sounds like the bugs are turning into humans! which..indeed, is quite an experiment! Perhaps 'has shifted his scientific focus..' or 'begun applying scientific experimentation..has begun conducting studies..' . The last sentence of your introduction could use some restructuring - it is too long. Perhaps you could elaborate a bit more on the particularity of this show, in order to break up that sentence. Also, viewer is singular, hence you cannot use 'they' to refer to 'him'. 'How they experience different environments' - awkward. Can you experience an environment? Or..how you feel within an environment. How the environment shapes your mental/emotional state? The first sentence of your second paragraph could be rephrased - as it is, it is not too fluent. 'biggest problem is that the' - maybe at least get rid of the 'that'.??? and..the 'beginning' as well. Maybe, 'The issues inherent in the exhibition arise upon entering the museum and checking your coat..'? sentence: 'Out of the concrete floor comes a metal cylinder' - not the best phrasing..It sounds a little like this metal cylinder has a life of its own. You can also call it a tube. But, I think you should figure out a better way to describe this. This floor IS very confusing - I agree with you. As you walk out the elevator into an almost empty room, you first perceive a very long line, then the carousel that you assume will pick up speed, and then you are semi-disappointed by the caged birds (why are they here?!!!), and finally..your eyes focus on the main bait of the exhibit - the bored man with potato bags. Oh wait, sorry - I mean to say..that tube! that tube sticking out of the floor - whats that doing there?! Does that connect to the floors below?! Wowza - how dreadfully boring! Can I please take a ride!!!! This was relaxing and beautiful, and felt so peaceful and a total opposite to the adrenaline rush of the slide and the flashing lights. - break this sentence up into two. Perhaps - an experience completely opposite/contrasting the adrenaline rush of the slide. Also, I would put something in front of the 'flashing lights' - like, what sort of feeling do they arise? Also an adrenaline rush or a dizziness?
There were many kinks: the lines and the contrast between works that make one feel excited and those which do not add to the show, but this type of show is important to contemporary art, and should continue to be developed. - This is so long and makes little sense. I don't understand it starting with the words 'do not add to' and following on with 'but this type of show......' I cant make the connection. Your final statement also seems out of place. Who is dismissing them? It just sounds like this wasnt a successful show....
The first sentence is a bit awkward - although, I see what you are trying to say, I'm not sure you can experiment bug or human..also, it kinda sounds like the bugs are turning into humans! which..indeed, is quite an experiment! Perhaps 'has shifted his scientific focus..' or 'begun applying scientific experimentation..has begun conducting studies..' .
ReplyDeleteThe last sentence of your introduction could use some restructuring - it is too long. Perhaps you could elaborate a bit more on the particularity of this show, in order to break up that sentence. Also, viewer is singular, hence you cannot use 'they' to refer to 'him'.
'How they experience different environments' - awkward. Can you experience an environment? Or..how you feel within an environment. How the environment shapes your mental/emotional state?
The first sentence of your second paragraph could be rephrased - as it is, it is not too fluent. 'biggest problem is that the' - maybe at least get rid of the 'that'.??? and..the 'beginning' as well. Maybe, 'The issues inherent in the exhibition arise upon entering the museum and checking your coat..'?
sentence: 'Out of the concrete floor comes a metal cylinder' - not the best phrasing..It sounds a little like this metal cylinder has a life of its own. You can also call it a tube. But, I think you should figure out a better way to describe this. This floor IS very confusing - I agree with you. As you walk out the elevator into an almost empty room, you first perceive a very long line, then the carousel that you assume will pick up speed, and then you are semi-disappointed by the caged birds (why are they here?!!!), and finally..your eyes focus on the main bait of the exhibit - the bored man with potato bags. Oh wait, sorry - I mean to say..that tube! that tube sticking out of the floor - whats that doing there?! Does that connect to the floors below?! Wowza - how dreadfully boring! Can I please take a ride!!!!
This was relaxing and beautiful, and felt so peaceful and a total opposite to the adrenaline rush of the slide and the flashing lights. - break this sentence up into two. Perhaps - an experience completely opposite/contrasting the adrenaline rush of the slide. Also, I would put something in front of the 'flashing lights' - like, what sort of feeling do they arise? Also an adrenaline rush or a dizziness?
There were many kinks: the lines and the contrast between works that make one feel excited and those which do not add to the show, but this type of show is important to contemporary art, and should continue to be developed. - This is so long and makes little sense. I don't understand it starting with the words 'do not add to' and following on with 'but this type of show......' I cant make the connection.
Your final statement also seems out of place. Who is dismissing them? It just sounds like this wasnt a successful show....