Tuesday 15 November 2011

Serra experience vs Höller experience

Two major shows currently on view in NYC are Richard Serra's Junction/Cycle at Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea and Carsten Höller's Experience at New Museum.  Though totally different in execution, both invite viewers' active participation by physically travelling through the installations - leisurely walking in Serra's while recklessly dashing in Höller's.

Serra at Chelsea's Gagosian, New York 2011:





The Serra experience is contemplative and personal, almost like a pilgrimage.  One couldn't help feeling enlightened while exiting.  Höller's Experience, on the other hand, is more sensory and spontaneous.  It is a re-interpretation of his 2006 Unilever Series project at Tate Modern in London.  I must confess that I actually did not experience Höller's installation first-hand.  Deterred by the long queue waiting to get in, I decided to observe from a distance instead.  Here's a glimpse of what it looks like:


Video from 's youtube channel