89 – Big Bang
Impact! Oversized “Flying Pins” by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen yell out and demand a look. This site sculpture wouldn’t be nearly so interesting at normal size, but just because it’s big, does that make it good? I’m a fan of art installations. Over-sized art must be looked at differently than the usual. The sheer size, the incongruity in environment, the unexpected presence of it, attracts attention. Is there more to it? Is there some real play of figure and ground juxtaposition? Is there something in the art itself that called for it to be made in a grand scale?
Some large art is just, well, large. I’ve seen several giant Balloon Dogs by Jeff Koons being examined in museums. Maybe you’ve seen these shiny metallic balloon animals. Their size and placement on a pedestal proclaim importance, but… I’m not so impressed. Well-crafted, yes, but to me, they are soul less replicas. OK, maybe they provide some humor
The concept of the art and how well it involves the viewer are considerations when thinking about size. Does large-ness say something that amplifies the statement of the art, or is it the main focus?
I’m thinking of this in reference to the art quilt that I am making. It’s going to be big, and I have my reasons.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FlyingPins.jpg
Lempkesfabriek, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Balloon Dog (Yellow) on the Roof | I ❤ NY, 2008 | Baptiste Pons / Flickrhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/bpt/2782701568/
Attribution-.NonCommercial-NoDerivs 20 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
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