Classy venue: Institut national d'histoire de l'art in Paris. I went to flip-through the possessions of Martha Rosler. This exhibition is a collaboration between the venue, e-flux and, presumably, Rosler herself. What is it? The show is simply all of the books owned by said artist/writer on shelves.
I have a secret love for exhibitions that show artists' workbooks and journals. I'm sorry. However, that's not what this is. I'm not sure that I can call it an exhibition. It's not that simple.
What's the deal with exhibiting inspiration and research? I'm certain that what interests me is more than basic voyeurism (although I do know some who love searching for their favorite artist's wishlists on Amazon (Whoa)). Nevertheless, when entering someone's apartment or house for the first time, it's all that I can do to not blatantly scope the bookshelf and see what is going on.
Rosler doesn't give the audience the pleasure of entering her home. Rather, the bookshelves travel with pithy pathetic gestures like a laptop streaming NPR, some dying plants in the corner and a few random nicknacks on the shelves.
I love pathetic gestures.
The reason that I liked this is because I'm a sucker for books. The reason that I liked this is not because I appreciated the notion of exhibiting someone's personal library. Was it possible to see a direct connection between Rosler's library and Rosler's work?
Maybe. If I'd spent long enough.
In releation to thinking about why she might have done this (or allowed it to happen), I've come up with these answers:
(1) Some benevolent gesture of social art practice and objectness. Think Papa Smurf letting the villagers read a potion book on a special day.
(2) Provided her a good opportunity to clean her apartment.
(3) Provided her a good opportunity to say, "I've got a lot of books."
(4) (Removed for legal reasons)
(5) Look Ma: art and life mix!
Now I'm going to hell. But before that, will I going back to this exhibit?
Yes.
Even though questions and problems that this exhibit poses are HUGE, what I'm really concerned about is making sure that none of those books are missing when they finally get back to her.
. . . what with all of these sinister, bitter art kids running around these days.
Here's a link to the e-flux page.
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UPDATE: I take some of what I said back. Sorry.