Vito
Acconci was born in 1940 and grew up in the Bronx, New York.
While in college and graduate school, Acconci studied creative
writing, but he wanted to reach people with more than the
written word, so in the 1960s Acconci started to explore
other art forms such as performance. Some of his experiments
included following a stranger on the street until he entered
a private space (such as a home or office), an activity
that could last minutes or hours. He also performed and
created art in gallery spaces.
Vito
Acconci has always been concerned with involving the audience
in his work, encouraging viewers to interact with the art
around them and challenging their ideas about art.
This
sculpture is an oversized version of a piece of women’s
clothing that the viewer can actually sit in. Acconci used
speakers that play music, which the viewers can only hear
when they are sitting inside or standing very close to the
sculpture.
- What
do you think about the fact that you can listen to and
even sit in a sculpture on display in an art museum?
One
section of Adjustable Wall Bra plays the sound of
someone breathing, while the other plays music. When Adjustable
Wall Bra was installed for the exhibition Open Ends,
the original music was changed from a band called the Mekons
(a punk-rock/alternative band from England), and was replaced
by Madonna's Immaculate Collection, 1990.
- What
do you think about the fact that the artist decided to
change the music?
Talking
about his work, Acconci said, "I want to put the viewer
on shaky ground."
- What
do you think about Acconci's statement? What might he
mean by "shaky ground?"
This
sculpture, made with plaster, steel, canvas, and including
speakers, is large enough to fill a room. It can be arranged
in a number of different positions so that, depending on
how it is set up, people can sit in it or walk under it.
Because of its large size, it can seem as if the room is
wearing the bra.
-
How
would you react to this sculpture if the artist made
it on a miniature and not a large scale?
-
Have
you ever been around a very large sculpture or statue?
Was it inside a building or outdoors? What was your
experience like?
Acconci's
work has continued to increase in size and he currently
creates large-scale projects for public spaces. He has work
in places such as subway stations, airports, and parks,
which can be seen by people on a daily basis.
- In
your opinion, do you think the meaning of art changes
if you find it in public places (like a street or a park)
instead of in a museum? If so, how does it change?
