More Space

I seem to be working on a theme here...

Anyway, I came across this review of a show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles called: "Ecstasy: In and About Altered States," organized by Paul Schimmel with Gloria Sutton. It's an exhibit consisting of installation pieces, and the title is self explanitory.

The beauty of an installation piece is the kind of space it, and the viewer, occupy. Sculpture exists in the same 3D space we do.. It almost dosen't matter if it is on a pedestal, or of a different scale.. it's beside us. Painting is a 2D illusion of 3D space, but that illusion can be extremely compelling, and can take us into our minds in weird ways. I suppose that to some viewers in some circumstances, that illusion can seem more real than "reality". But an installation piece invites us inside... We can get into it's space and it can get into ours. It can make us question reality in ways that painting and sculpture can't because it can interact with us directly.

This is one show I wish I could see. I'm someone who lived in her own head for many years, and sometimes still do... Shows like this one help me question what I see. (That's possibly a side effect of being alone for many years. If the time ever comes that I'm no longer alone, I may have a different perspective.)

But generally, I tend to be drawn to art that can join me inside my head.