If you watch the Today Show, you know Jeff Koons. He made the ginor-mous, 43 foot tall (from paws to ears) that was on the plaza back in 2000 and it probably made you smile! (as it should have. I mean, it's a friggin' 43' tall puppy made of flowers... the Terminator would have smiled!)But, it's important to know that in addition to earning tons of money (at one time, circa 2007, the highest price at auction for any contemporary artwork - around 27 million), and being hugely accessible, Jeff Koons is WILDLY hated. Sort of like the way that anyone hates on Beyonce, or Anne Hathaway. The bigger you get, the harder they want to smack you down (Mo' Money, Mo' Problems).
The big thing about Mr. Koons, who has made works in paint, ceramic, bronze and more, is that he tends to speak to the part of the brain that US Weekly, or a visit to Granny's or a trip to the dinner does... but with a twist. It's normal, but better, and more interesting. Like eating at Cafeteria or the Conde Naste employee cafe vs. a regular lunchroom. Works like Michael Jackson and Bubbles (1988) showcase how he takes images that are super regular (and even simply fantastically enjoyable in their mindlessness- like Life & Style might be) and elevates them by putting in all of this tedious detail. The concept of how long it takes to construct Puppy, or cast Michael Jackson in Porcelein is insanely detailed and more tedious than such a frivolous topic SHOULD warrent... but that's sort of the point of art, right? It's not necessarily, neccessary?
So, the big thing to know is that all of this accessibility and commercial success has made Jeff Koons a loved and hated artist. A lot of people wonder if he's just about Kitsch for Kitsch sake? Like, is he like a current Robert DeNiro... where he just plays Robert DeNiro because it gets him a large paycheck? He finds something that works and makes it again, and again and again (the made "Puppy", in large form, at least 4 times). Or is Jeff Koons genuinely in love with making really pretty versions of American crap? Generally speaking, it's hard to say.... Whenever any artist gets popular, it's hard for them to keep "creating" stuff that is true to them, and not a reflection of the persona who got famous.... I think that's part of why why Kurt Cobain killed himself... matter of fact.
But, to be honest, there has to be more to Jeff Koons' than simply making the SIMPLE really pretty (and tedious). Last summer I went with a friend to the Met and saw a few of his new, large scale sculptures replicating, once again, Kitschy Mylar balloon art.
Alone, they were so lovely and fun and funny. They enhanced the backdrop to my rooftop cocktail. If I were a hater, I'd love to say that they were fun because they were big, expensive versions of silly memories I have from being a kid in America. But, I'm not much of a hater..... And I think there's a bigger thing to Mr. Jeffy.... He loves things that are filled with Air, and life and that are transient and moving. (Like Michael's face. LOLOLOLOLOL!)Seriously though, if you think about it, his newest work is all large scale balloon art... involving air and breath. Puppy involves this gorgeous and yet living, breathing and dying flowers. And then there are his older works.... things like Life Boat from 1985... a saving water device cast in heavy, heavy, not gonna save anyone bronze.
But there is something fascinating about the idea of such heavy, heavy, big pieces involving life and air.Wiki Mr. Koons and see what you think... If it just makes you smile, that's OK! If it makes you think, it's probably even better.
