Pixel Forest

Pipilotti Rist’s hugely popular exhibition at the New Museum is a dreamland unlike anything I had experienced before. The first thing I noticed while waiting in a long line at the New Museum was the loop of Rist pushing her face against a glass pane in the front window. Once I walked in, the machine producing bubbles in the lobby had a very comical effect, which served as a contrast to the incredible production ahead. Witnessing “Ever is Over All” in the way it was presented here gave the work a whole new dimension: seeing the youtube video in class really did not do this amazing piece justice. Pixel Forest made for some great photos. It was reminiscent of the Glade Museum of Feelings, although I feel that comparison is somewhat insulting to the depth of Rist’s installation. The fourth floor was my favorite, and I felt there was a democratizing force in the idea that thousands of people had laid in the same position I had when gazing up at the celling display. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel grossed out. I was struck by the functionality of the exhibits and the way they were organized: from the loop at the door of the museum to the arrangement of the different spaces, each part of the journey seemed to arouse curiosity and lead the observer in a seamless experience. This is by far one of the most accessible art shows I have ever been to. Even my father, who is not exactly artistic, would have been fully immersed by the sheer beauty of every environment presented.