Appearance Stripped Bare: Duchamp and Koons in Mexico City

Today, Mexico City's Museo Jumex will open its awaited exhibition featuring the works of Jeff Koons and Marcel Duchamp to the public.

“ Apariencia Desnuda ” ( Appearance Stripped Bare ) is formed by over 80 pieces from 30 collections and according to the curator , “it was a close relationship with Mexico City and the country. The title comes from an essay written by Octavio Paz ”, which is exhibited among the pieces, “one of the most brilliant interpretations of Duchamp's work .”

According to the museum, the exhibition is “The first major exhibition to bring together these two legendary artists, Appearance Stripped Bare places the work of Koons and Duchamp side by side, as in a hall of mirrors that reflects, distorts, and amplifies the artists’ similarities and differences within a complex 'regime of coincidences,' to borrow one of Duchamp’s peculiar expressions.”

The exhibition explores the work of two of the most i nfluential and polemic artists of the 20th century . Marcel Duchamp broke down the boundaries between works of art and everyday objects. On the other hand, Jeff Koon s is a conceptual, minimalist, and pop artist.

Koons

often explores beauty, fertility, happiness, love, and pop culture through painting and sculptures and Marcel Duchamp is known for his “ readymades ” pieces, a concept he used to describe art carried out through pieces that wouldn't generally be considered artistic.

The curator explains that these two artists are “the beginning and the end of the 20th centur y” and that they both “question the function of the object and the fascination with consumerism .”

Furthermore, Massimiliano Gioni said that “There is no one else less worried about the market than Koons . He is the same person he was in the 80s, that bought inflatables. The prices of those objects might say something about our times but they say nothing about Jeff Koons .”

In an interview with EL UNIVERSAL , Jeff Koons explained that Duchamp was a huge influence for him: “when I was young I didn't understand the power of art until I found the work of Manet and Duchamp . In particular, the work of Duchamp communicated that everything is already here, you just have to open up to the world that surrounds you.”

During the interview, Jeff Koons explained what art means to him: “ art is not the object but the essence of the potential of the spectator . The precious (part) is that the object can move the spectator and stimulate them. This stimulation is where the spectator can find art.”

What does Marcel Duchamp mean in your career and how was this meaning changed?

The meaning of Duchamp in my career continues, evolves, and redefines but in a certain way it has always been consistent . His work has a great impact because it has always been a symbol of liberation , of being able to place everything and incorporate it into a new vocabulary. We have the potential to do something deeply if we focus on our work.

His work has shown that if we open up we will find ourselves with a vocabulary that will open the world to us. He also imagines identity almost as a ready-made.

Taking your series “Made in Heaven” as a reference, after the #MeToo movement have you been limited when creating new pieces?

I think the world and how we see and understand it, it's always changing. Wonderful movement s are emerging and how we raise our children differently and everyone is understanding what rights are. These movements are positive. In regards to Made in Heaven , my ex-wife was always capable of not feeling guilt, shame, that was one of her strengths.

Do you think consumerism has forged the identity of your country?

I imagine consumerism participates but there are more things that forge identities , such as thoughts and education . The fact that an individual fulfills their needs is a reference to consumerism.

Are you interested in criticizing consumerism through your art?

I think my work is about desire , different needs, desire for abundance and sharing and if we talk about those needs , we aren't talking about superficial things, but transcendental and how desires (leads to) transcendence .

Are you interested in the beauty of objects per se?

I'm interested in beauty , the beauty of nature and the individual more than in the object. The object is only a vehicle that carries the essence of our own potential , our own beauty. The objects are inanimate. The artist always believes that if they really focus their work with enough strength, they will achieve, eventually, that the object has that energy but this is never the case. Relevance is always on the one that observes the piece

What do you think about the idea that you are the new Andy Warhol?

I've always thought that Duchamp is the grandfather, Andy would be the father, and I would be the grandson. It would be an honor to have this exhibition along with Duchamp . My work makes reference to them and other artists .

You classify your work in series, do they have an end or can you return work on them?

I focus on the narrative of the body that I work with and I focus on that until I'm exhausted. After that, I want to work on another piece. What I do are highbrands , which make reference to previous works but I don't return and keep on working on past series. When I did the Popeye series I didn't make a stainless steel figure of Popeye , that was after, that is a highbrand. But in general, I exhaust myself in an idea and then work on another. If I have a really good idea, I never want to do it.”

What do you think about social media and virtual reality? Do they shape the future of art?

I'm involved in the virtual reality dialogue and work with technology, such as scan systems and computer systems to do my work but in regards to social media , I think it's more about the stigma of the ego. I enjoy the interaction when making a piece and presenting it to the public in a more intimate way; I'm not comfortable with social media.”

Are you affected by counterfeit?

There are a lot of references to my work a lot of people recreates Balloon Dog but they are different from the ones I make, different sizes and they don't have my name. I see this and I think about the appreciation these images have in the world and that they have an iconic quality. I suppose that happens when you create something iconic.

Mexico City to present Koons and Duchamp exhibition

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