The art commissioned for Tate Modern’s giant turbine hall has been getting bigger and bigger. But is bigger really better? “Art that overwhelms, ‘total immersion’ art, invites suspicion. Some think it intellectually, ethically, and politically dubious. Big art is routinely called “fascistic” – after all, Hitler’s architect Albert Speer dealt in mega-structures and the Nuremberg rally was a triumph of number and mass.”
Tag: 12.15.03
Why The WTC Memorial Will Be A Failure
In the next few weeks a decision will be made on which memorial at the World Trade Center site will be built. “The decision will be hailed by the powers that be as a victory for the people, for the open process by which it was conducted, for democracy. It will also almost certainly be a failure. The eight designs under consideration are widely considered uninspiring, banal, needlessly complicated, unimaginative and insufficient to evoke the horror of Sept. 11. But if you believe the Lower Manhattan Development Corp., which is overseeing the redevelopment of ground zero, they are the best that democracy can provide, and that ought to be good enough for anyone.”
World’s “Biggest” Book
In this season of “bests” lists, how about a “biggest” accomplishment? “Guinness World Records has certified that “Bhutan,” a photographic journey across that Himalayan country, is the world’s largest published book. It measures 5-by-7 feet when opened, and many of its dazzling photographs are full-page. The book is also among the priciest. Each hand-bound copy costs $10,000.”