EVG reader Jeanne Krier came across two workers last evening dusting and polishing "Balloon Rabbit (Red)," the 14-foot, 6,600-pound sculpture by Jeff Koons that adorns the lobby of the IBM Watson Building at 51 Astor Place...
The mirror-polished stainless steel (with transparent color coating)
It's probably worth a lot. In November 2013, Koons's "Balloon Dog (Orange)" sold for $58.4 million, the most expensive piece ever by a living artist. The previous red rabbit owner was publishing magnate Peter Brant, who's setting up shop at 421 E. Sixth St.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Meanwhile at the IBM Watson building, the Jeff Koons rabbit sculpture has arrived for the lobby
It's worth what someone will pay for it. If I were the someone, I wouldn't give a plugged nickel for that pretentious piece of "art". That object is the equivalent of someone's lawn flamingo on steroids.
ReplyDeleteBUT the lobby of the Death Star building is most definitely its proper home! Crappy architecture, now decorated with appropriately crappy "art"! Welcome to Midtown South; the blanding of NYC continues.
I have always been surprised that they bought the red one. "IBM Blue" would have been the better color choice.
ReplyDeleteBad art crammed into a much too small space, which to some extent mitigates the badness. Koons, as per usual, is laughing all the way to the bank...
ReplyDeleteAstor Place's corporate makeover comes complete with corporate "safe" and "fun" artwork guaranteed to offend nobody and delight the kiddies. I have to lump the green man Haring sculpture into this category as well. Haring's 2 dimensional work had street cred especially when it was on the street. I was never a fan of his sculpture because it never translated to that extra dimension. These two examples are such low hanging fruit.
ReplyDeleteI think Keith Haring at least draws his own stick figures. Koons couldn't color by numbers if his life depended on it.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe, on the other hand, that all the people complaining about this corporate pap passing as art could handle anything really controversial. The last thing anyone wants to do is peer into their own nasty little hearts.
I enjoy the both sculptures. They're fun. There should be more outdoor art at Astor. Better than concrete, dead trees and pink ice cream box.
ReplyDeleteThis Koons sculpture is completely covered in dust most of the time.
ReplyDeleteIf it wasn't in that lobby and he wasn't a darling for billionaire and millionaire poser art collectors, I would say that his gigantic balloon animals come off like a subversive statement against the juvenile and infantile mindset of the youth of this particular generation.
ReplyDeleteBut it's just a giant ugly ass eyesore. As is a lot of real estate commissioned art that are defiling the walls of the tower pestilence and regular apt. buildings. (the exception being the art that usually goes up on the wall by Houston and Bowery, the new one is incredible)
"I don't believe, on the other hand, that all the people complaining about this corporate pap passing as art could handle anything really controversial." I believe you are incorrect.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they were scrubbing off virtual graffiti:
ReplyDeletehttps://gizmodo.com/artist-protests-augmented-reality-sculpture-by-digitall-1819170887 Artist Protests Augmented Reality Sculpture By Digitally 'Vandalizing' Snapchat Balloon Dog