Tuesday, April 04, 2006

The show, as a whole, is garbage

So writes JT Kirkland as he trashes what has been called the worst Whitney Biennial of all time.

Kirkland is kinder to some, including Zoe Strauss when he writes:

Zoe Strauss' photos are thought-provoking, quiet, striking and humble. They feel very real... well, because they are.

Unfortunately, in the WB they have a hard time grabbing a viewer's attention... even when shown as a slideshow. One must sit down and just look to get swept up in Strauss' world.

But, while I viewed the show I lost count of the number of people who walked in and out almost immediately looking for the next porn video or loud sound. Speaking of loud sounds... the curators really hurt Strauss' show by allowing the incredibly loud noises from neighboring installations to creep into her space.

Strauss' work is more enjoyable when in silence. But silence allows thought and the curators couldn't have that. Funny thing is that Strauss' work stood up to the noise and certainly could have handled silence.
Read Kirkland's review here.

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