Maurizio Cattelan's retrospective All, dangling from the Guggenheim's rotunda, is the Italian artist's swan song. Although he is only 51 years old, and has enjoyed a successful career, Cattelan is retiring from the art world. The massive mobile-like sculpture, which is comprised of the 123 individual pieces that Cattelan has produced since 1989, stimulated my senses and left me staring like a baby in awe. Taxidermied animals, a kneeling Hitler, Pinnocchio, a meteor stricken pope, body bags, an elephant covered in a white KKK sheet, a chess table, and a giant cat skeleton suspended morosely by ropes. I believe the common conscensus was that it appeared to be fashioned as a mass suicide. It was funny, sad, disturbing, and thought-provoking. The museum itself is so beautiful, the architecture so striking, that simply walking up and down its circular ramps was a treat. Getting to see all of the unusual pieces from different perspectives while doing so was so cool. It was a stunning use of the space. I'm not sure that the photos really do it justice.
Saturday evenings, from 5:45pm on, is pay what you wish at the Guggenheim. Given that normal admission price is $18, being able to pay a quarter to see the same thing is an awesome deal.
"Diamond rope silver chain/ Pretty noose is pretty pain/ And I don't like/ What you got me hanging from" --Soundgarden, Pretty Noose
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