List Grid

Blogs Centerpoints

Sky Bouncer

By

IMAGES: (left) James Turrell’s Sky Pesher and (right) Mongo Thomson’s Skyspace Bouncehouse. The contemporary arts quarterly X-Tra calls Mungo Thomson’s Skyspace Bouncehouse “a nod” to James Turrell’s Skyspace pavilions. Other words come to mind — “knockoff,” “ripoff” or the more charitable “tribute.” Turrell’s Sky Pesher, commissioned by the Walker and unveiled in 2005 to mark [...]

IMAGES: (left) James Turrell’s Sky Pesher and (right) Mongo Thomson’s Skyspace Bouncehouse.

The contemporary arts quarterly X-Tra calls Mungo Thomson’s Skyspace Bouncehouse “a nod” to James Turrell’s Skyspace pavilions. Other words come to mind — “knockoff,” “ripoff” or the more charitable “tribute.” Turrell’s Sky Pesher, commissioned by the Walker and unveiled in 2005 to mark the Walker’s reopening, could have served as Thomson’s blueprint. But if Richard Prince can reframe others’ creations and cast them as his own art, Turrell might as well save on the attorneys’ fees — he doesn’t have a case. And as a colleague here was quick to point out, Thomson’s version seems “more fun.”

X-Tra points out that Turrell’s work draws on his experiences as a Quaker, adding that, “by adding the opportunity to bounce and jump in the Skyspace, Thomson provides a way to exorcise the demons within us–and if you bring your iPod with a downloaded Black Flag track, you can rock your world, in deep contrast to the pious quiet and pacifist underpinnings of the Turrell Quaker pavilions.”

  • Kristina says:
    March 10, 2008 at 10:35 pm

    Man, I bet Turrell has jumped in one of those bounce houses himself, cowboy hat held to his head and all, and I hardly think he’d go so low as to ever call it a ripoff or a knockoff. And he’s made dozens of skyspaces, not just the one in the WAC’s backyard! If you want to argue appropriation, check out Mungo’s Bruce Nauman bumper stickers! http://www.johnconnellypresents.com/artist/seriesworkview/744/130/3164

    (Is it bad that I want one?)

  • Matt Peiken says:
    March 11, 2008 at 1:12 pm

    Regardless of Turrell’s Skyspace output, you can’t help but see the uncanny likeness of Thomson’s piece to Sky Pesher. Rather than “a nod,” X-Tra would have been more accurate by calling it “a full-body seizure” to Turrell’s work. But on further thought, Kristina, you’re right on another point — this isn’t a knockoff or ripoff. It’s more of an embellishment. In comic improvisation, the key to strong performance is saying “Yes, and …” to your scene partners — “yes” to what others have said or done, then adding action and dialogue that takes the scene to other levels. Thomson is saying “Yes, and …” to Turrell’s work.

  • Kristina Fong says:
    March 11, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    Okay..

    Well, for all, here is a must-read on the topic of appropriation: http://www.designobserver.com/archives/031500.html

    (Also it’s Mungo. I rode a horse in horse camp once named Mongo. He always had grass remnants and grass juice running out of his mouth. Loved that guy.)

  • Matt Peiken says:
    March 13, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    Kristina, have you ever seen “Blazing Saddles?” Easy for me to make the Mongo/Mungo mistake — thanks for pointing it out. I’ve corrected it.

  • Cameron Wittig says:
    March 13, 2008 at 5:14 pm

    Kristina, we have that Mungo Thomson bumper sticker above our light table in the Walker photo studio. It’s one of my favorite things.