If context in art is everything, is the artist Jeff Koon’s (one of the greatest self-promoters of all time) Rabbit float art or just kitsch? And what does Jeff Koons have in common with Goofy, Bugs Bunny, Babe the Pig, Scooby Doo, Bart Simpson and Barney the Dinosaur?
The Baltimore Museum of Art has a Rabbit sculpture created by American artist Jeff Koons in 1986. Here’s the context: the sculpture is of a Mylar inflatable bunny rabbit, a common carnival or street fair souvenir for children, but it’s made out of highly polished stainless steel and stands about 3 feet tall. So in the context of the artwork one could say that irony is the hallmark of this piece in that it is ironic that a light-as-air object should be cast in heavy metal. It is brilliant, literally and figuratively.
So now Macy’s of New York City has debuted a new Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon that is the spitting image of the Rabbit, created by Koons himself. So sandwiched between Shrek and Hello Kitty was the Koon’s Rabbit but this time not in it’s heavy metal form, but as a large inflatable bunny much like the original carnival souvenir.
If the context of a work of art changes (as well as the medium) is it still a work of art? I argue that by reverting to a bunny balloon in a parade, the Rabbit is no longer art but just merchandise related to a work of art. I do like the idea of art being a part of popular culture even if it is Jeff Koons. And it is most appropriate to have Mr. Koons work in the cartoon capitalistic parade that is Macy’s. SpongeBob Square Pants, Mr. Potato Head, the Honey Nut Cheerios Bee and Jeff Koons Rabbit.
Sources:
- http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/arts/23rabbit.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macy's_Thanksgiving_Day_Parade
