Spiral
Closes Sunday
Occasionally, people-watching in a gallery is more fun than viewing the work itself. Art goers come in all shapes and sizes, voices and opinions; To stereotype, there are the serious ones who stand back in a knowing manner, while others not quite so sure stare from all angles in search of meaning. I once saw an iPod clad teenager sit on the bar that separated him from a Van Gogh and pop a mint in his mouth. But aside from him, between the white walls of galleries, one thing generally remains true -- love or hate it, art deserves a certain reverence. Don't touch or come too close. Criticize if you will, but do so in hushed tones.
This, however, is not the case for "Lumps and Bumps" at Spiral (www.spiral.co.jp). For Lang/Baumann, the Swiss duo of Sabina Lang and Daniel Baumann, viewer interaction is as important as the work itself. Since forming in 1990 they have produced playful works in diverse locations from historic houses to football fields. Taking inspiration from 1970s pop aesthetics, they are interested in the interrelationship between art and architecture and their work is a hybrid of the two.
In the post-modern organic space of Spiral, they present us with a carpet/mural, a strange Las Vegas-like wall hanging, and a series of large blue inflatables. The inflatables -- which visitors are free to do whatever they want with -- are the real star of the show. So sit, stand or jump long enough and who knows what you will see.
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