Gemeente Museum Den Haag

[fbhjr]

So the museum where they had moved the prints near the Parliament building was a few miles away. So, having already walked a lot, I decided to take a tram.
The tram lines are covered with grass. I guess that's nice. At least as long as you don't trip on the rails crossing because you think it is just some grass.


My first clue this might be a someone strange museum was this when I reached the museum.
Yes, Stalin in a phone box.

At least they gave him a reading light...

There was no note or anything to explain this.
I have nothing to offer in that regard either.

At least the broken bridge in the algae covered pond had a note...


A lot of the stuff in the museum was strange to me. Even reading the note didn't help much.


I'm not sure why FedExing yourself copper blocks and leaving the tags on is art.
I'm not saying it isn't. I'm just saying I've got no idea why it is art or what it is supposed to show.


I have no idea if this was an exhibit or litter.


This is clearly art. But, again, no idea what it's trying to say. Maybe it is art in Dutch?


I don't know what this one is supposed to mean. But the body inside the top bit makes me think it is the funeral for music on MTV.


The note on this one just doesn't help at all.


I guess this one is supposed to be disturbing. They got that part down alright.


The note for this one shows even they don't know what it means.


I did finally get to the part of the museum that had the sort of art I had expected.



I find this one very interesting.


I wonder a lot about that one. Two guys painted by Rembrandt and they just dismiss it as "because they had exotic features". Even when he painted this he was a well known artist. What are the stories of these two guys? I'd like to think they had interesting ones and that had something to do with this too.
But, I guess I won't know.

When I came out, Stalin in the phone booth was still waiting.

So, I decided to go to the beach.

Comments

[jvmatucha.livejournal.com]

That place looks cool! I love whacked out art like that.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite quotes by MC Escher is:
"Something repulsive, which gives you a moral hangover, and hurts your ears or eyes, may well be art.!"
And, I agree with him on that.

The thing that bothers me about this museum is they don't give any information on what the artist was trying to say.
I'd love to know why the people made this art. Just telling me it is a copper block with a FedEx tag does not do that. I can see that for myself.
Why did they do that?
Wish I knew.

[jvmatucha.livejournal.com]

SFMOMA can be the same way, but most modern American art relies on irony for its symbolism, so not much interpratation is needed.

It could be the artists themselves wanted the observer to interpret the meaning. A lotta artists are like that.

My favorite definition of art is Andy Warhol's: "Art is art if the artist says it is."

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

I had problems looking at the photo of large sheets of copper just sitting there.
I kept thinking of how many engraving plates and other copper stuff could be made
with all of that wonderful copper.

The shipping label thing is sort of intriguing but sort of weird at the same time.

I also thought the 'astronaut' sculptures made me think of the old MTV logo.

Maybe Stalin in the phonebooth is a wordplay on "Stalin" (stalling)?
I can't make that phonecall, someone's Stalin in the booth!
Or
Hang up already! You're just Stalin for time

[ravena-kade.livejournal.com]

Maybe Stalin thought he was in a TARDIS

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

I love weird art. And those copper boxes.

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

There is a lot of strange things in that museum .. Thanks for *trying* to make sense of it for us.