Competing for space
Marcel Broodthaers’ White cabinet and white table is a lively conversation between the vertical and the horizontal. It feels as though the egg shells sitting on the outside want to go inside, and the eggshells inside the cabinet want to come out. It’s crowded, but not too overwhelming, partly because of the color harmony between all the components. In fact, there is only one harmless color: white. Maybe call it a greyish cream. Whatever words suit your fancy, this is a monochrome creation that is a friendly, tactile invitation. The lone black knob on the center of the drawer is making eye contact with you. It extends outwards, perpendicular to the surface it is born to, and it reaches for the viewer. Maybe that black dot adds a sense of self awareness to this crowded yet organized mess.
This work reminds me of an installation that takes over an entire ceiling. This time, instead of egg shells, the artist Philippe Parreno used red balloons to create a swarm. The plastic, stretched out surface of the ‘speech bubbles’ is capable of letting light through, thereby creating beautiful red shadows in the hallway. Although the bubbles crowd the ceiling, they still leave room for humans to walk underneath it. Therefore, they do not seem to compete for space with us. Unless you are very very tall. But the lighting effect extends its bold colorful impact beyond the physical space that the balloons occupy and playfully commingles with the space that a viewer might occupy.
Lastly, I want to bring you to a gallery exhibition that completely ditches the need to give the viewer space. This installation by Seung Yul Oh is so bold, both in its scale and in the colors employed. It kind of leaves me speechless. I think it is a great contrast to the ceiling balloons above and it is a nice continuation of the conversation around space. There is also a sense of direction, of a vector force wanting to expand outwards. The giant bubbles here barely seem to be sitting still; instead, they look like they want to topple the ceiling, crush the floor, and destroy the stairway if they wanted to. They seem to embody this active will to compete for space with the viewer. It also demands attention. It commands our attention. Maybe we should be running for our lives if one of the balloons bursts and releases some toxic gas. Who knows?
