Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the galleries

As faithful readers may recall, YT has had a weeee bit of trouble on occasion comprehending the deep and meaningful significance of some forms of contemporary art. As if being subject to festering foodstuffs hung on walls and onions protruding out of people’s anuses were not enough, we now have a new installation entitled Hugris, or ‘Mind Erection’, performed by an Austrian troupe called Gelitin.

The opening of this particular exhibition featured seven members of the troupe [well actually four members of the troupe and three ‘guest artists’] reclining comfortably on a stage set with their legs purposefully spread apart. As it happened, the crotch of their clothing had been cut out, exposing their naked genitalia. The ‘performance’ consisted in the artists bringing on an erection using only – are you ready? – the power of their mind. [Successfully, I might add.]

Deep? Evidently so: “Despite a strong sexual undercurrent... the performance was reminiscent of a timeless piece of theatre or painting composition in which the spirit of the history of art glided overhead. Because when all is said and done, sexual fetishism... has laid the foundation for the aesthetic on which the history of art rests. It is moreover fascinating to place this performance in context with the ideology that has prevailed over the past century, which holds that genitalia (male genitalia) is the basis of and analogy for artistic creativity. The pen, brush and chisel are symbols of the phallus; imagination, imagery and sensory memory enable individuals (artists) to make imagination incarnate.”*

… Dang! And here I just thought it was about fantasizing to get off, with a little bit of exhibitionism thrown in. Silly me.

YEAH. MAYBE I’LL JUST STICK WITH THE WEATHER
It’s been bleh! for a couple of days, heavy cloud and showers and generally chin-to-the-sidewalk type of weather. But! It’s clearing up now… there’s even a wee bit of sun coming through the clouds. Weatherman promised highs of 18°C today and currently it’s 12°C [only 6 to go, weatherman, c’mon!] and sunrise was at 05.05, sunset will be at 21.58.

* Review in today’s Morgunblaðið, p. 41.