The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) focuses on the ancient art of the past. About 20 years ago, the Met started to install modern sculptures in their collection. Recently, the Met installed three modern sculptures with transparent coating on the roof with its views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. The name for the group of three hugely sized and brilliantly colored stainless steel works was “Jeff Koons on the Roof” by Jeff Koons. It was rare to see the cartoon like sculpture that looks like a balloon but it is actually made of metal. All of the sculptures are fresh, new and bright and all age groups can relate to them unlike the usual exhibits in the museum that have years of history attached to them.
The three sculptures are the Balloon Dog (yellow), Winnie the Pooh Coloring Book (transparent color coating) and Sacred Heart (red/gold). They are interactive to the viewers. When I walked onto the roof the first impression was brightness. There was a lot of reflected sunlight from the Balloon Dog and Sacred Heart since both of them were made from steel. I felt I was in Disney’s playground during the holiday season. This exhibition represented children’s joyfulness. They are all in realistic shapes, especially the round shape of the Balloon Dog. I thought it was a real and made of rubber when I first looked at it. I could not stop myself from touching it and knocking on it. However, I think the Winnie the Pooh coloring book was the most interesting. It has multiple colors: blue, pink, red, orange, green and silver. The colors reflect onto the surroundings and the surrounding colors also affect the color of the book. I could look at them as though looking at a colorful mirror. It was fun to look at the book to and actually see the surrounding park landscape reflected back. The last one was the red metal heart, with its spectacular wrapped surface and golden ribbon. For me, it represented love between adults and was a present to lovers. However the pamphlet says that “it may suggest childhood-as well as adult-dreams and fantasies about candy and luxury goods, intermixed with the potent Roman Catholic image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”
The Curator of the Met did a great job of putting the Balloon Dog, Winnie the Pooh Coloring Book and the Sacred Heart on the roof. If these art works were installed in the indoor exhibit room, the presentation would not be as effective. They are bright and have an active feel to the viewer. If put indoors, it is as if you have locked up a happy and active doggy in a cage. The curator put the Balloon Dog and the Sacred Heart in parallel position facing south. The coloring book was perpendicular facing west. They are out doors on the roof with the beautiful Manhattan skyline in the distance and the surrounding trees free the images because their impact changes as the environment changes.
These three sculptures seem to be joyful and present in a positive message in a fun way. All age viewers can relate to them. The coloring book represents teenager’s learning process and development. It shows creativity and innocence. The heart represents adult themes of romance and commercialism to me. I do not relate to the religious themes as indicated in the pamphlet. The Balloon Dog represents the toddler’s happiness from receiving a gift on a festive occasion. Usually we see a clown in the play ground giving out balloon dogs to the children at a party.
Jeff Koons’ “Jeff Koons on the Roof,” communicates with a broad audience. His work shows contemporary ideas with celebrity, commerce and sexuality. It was a very special exhibition as compared to the historical artwork inside the Met. This exhibition was very interesting. I will bring my children to see it again.