I wish all of the descriptions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art were written by Joe Brainard. Seriously. His “Ten Imaginary Still Lifes” piece was so interesting that I would stay at the MET all day to read his writing. I had to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art last semester because of my Art History class. The first time I went, I did not stay very long, only long enough to find what I was looking for and then leave. I appreciate art, and I love exploring museums, but it just was not worth it that day. The second time around was a different experience for me and I stayed for a little while longer than the previous visit because I was so interested in the art.
Inviting? Rather intimidating, actually. I don’t want to touch it, don’t want to damage it.
Although I cannot fully comprehend what he meant in “Imaginary Still Life No. 9,” it was my favourite (picture an English accent). “A dozen dark red roses in a very tall vase completes this elegant~if icy~still life. A still life with a story. And probably a sad one.” That line caught my eye. Something can be elegant and icy at the same time. A perfect example, in my opinion, is New York City. How certain elegant places and buildings can have a cold, uninviting feeling as I walk by them. I don’t want to walk into them, no matter how good they look. Gold does not make me feel warm. The sad story in this still life is probably about a breakup, I’m guessing. Whenever there are flowers involved, I feel it has something to do with love. Artists are tricky, so I’ll never know.
