Museo Guggenheim, Bilbao |
Time is relative. It changes with
the activity and from person to person. If we’re having fun, the time flies.
When we are bored, a minute passes like an hour. Just ask any student. Time is subjective and multi dimensional. Two
people can do the same thing at the same time and end up having two very
different experiences. Just ask any husband who accompanies his wife at a shoe shopping craze. Time is also emotional; we continuously shape it through our experiences
and perceptions.
So how do you perceive time if
the experience is disorienting or fragmented?
And no, I’m not referring to Borges’ The Garden of the Forking Paths or Labyrinths. I’m just trying to explain ‘The Matter of Time’, a truly inspiring installation
we’ve just seen at the Museo Guggenheim at Bilbao. I am not even sure ‘see’ is the correct word
to describe the experience. I might as well use ‘share or walk through’.
![]() |
The Matter of Time |
The
artist Richard Serra created eight shapes of ellipses, spirals and spheres; all
layered & gigantic and invites the visitors to map each shape and space
through their own motions and choices. There’s no preferred sequence to walk
around (or in!) the shapes, you can start with any one of them, walk in, run around,
touch, sing and experience the whole thing
as you wish.
Come to think of it, it was as if
some of the stories from Labyrinths
(The Circular Ruins or Chuang Tzu’s dream within a dream) materialized as huge shapes
of steel.
Amazing. No ? |
The Matter of Time is not the only think that’s interesting at the Museo; the building itself with it’s
curving metallic exterior and huge glass & stone interior is as mind
blowing as any installation that took place within.
Tulips |
Both the building and its
permanent collection The Matter of Time
are hailed as the very best examples of 20th cc contemporary architecture
and art by critics. Don't take my word for it, just have a look. http://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/
I see they also have the installation by Anish Kapoor on display, I like those steel bubbles (Tall tree and the Eye) , isn't he a genius too ?!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteenlightening
ReplyDelete