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Monday, June 13, 2011

A L I C E I N W O N D E R L A N D


Robert Morris: Labyrinths-Voice-Blind Time (exhibition poster)

In attempting to analyse this image, which I viewed at the Serralves performance art retrospective 'Off the Wall', in Oporto yesterday, I feel myself tumble down the rabbit hole.

It functions on such a primal level, its fascistic, sexualised codes, its 'fuck-me, fuck you' pose. It's the gallery poster for a minimalist artist, for fuck's sake. Seventies' New York City, you eroticised yourself for me yet again.

Robert Morris had, over an extensive 'body' of work been playful and provocative with notions of the masculine artist. I cannot believe he was naive about the power this image would wield. This from the New York Times, in an 80s retrospective: "The tension between ecstasy and expiration, sexuality and death, leads back to Bernini's ''Ecstasy of St. Teresa.'' Mr. Morris is one of many contemporary artists drawn to the Baroque"