Art Imitates Life

On a recent trip to Minneapolis, Hiroko and I visited the city's (excellent) Walker Art Center. On exhibition were a large selection of works from "image cannibal" Richard Prince, who made a name for himself by re-photographing iconic images from the pages of the New York Times and famous print advertisements. His sole artistic contribution to these repurposed works is enlarging them and getting them hung in art galleries. (As you might imagine, there's a lot of debate over whether this actually constitutes "art" or "outright thievery.")

Hiroko and I are standing before one of his (?) signature works, an enlargement of the image from a Marlboro advertisement. In the midst of our discussion, we're approached by the museum docent. In a polite voice, the white-haired woman inquires:

"Excuse me, sir, but is that a camera bag?"

I acknowledge that yes, that the bag zipped shut and hanging at my side is indeed a camera bag.

"Are you aware of the policy regarding photographs?" she continues.

"Richard Prince's?" I ask, slightly confused.

"The museum's. You can't take photographs here."

"Uh... Sure. I wasn't planning on it."

"I just wanted you to know." The irony of being asked not to re-photograph an image that Prince himself re-photographed out of the pages of a magazine doesn't seem to register with her. I start grinning. 

Perhaps she thinks I'm not taking her seriously. "Please don't take any photographs in here," she repeats once more before turning and walking away.

Left to ourselves (and the Marlboro Man) once again, Hiroko and I look around slowly, unsure if we're part of some elaborate piece of performance art. Was she worried that we were planning to sell a photograph of Prince's photograph of a photograph to another gallery? Somehow, I think the artist would be amused.

Comments

[Davecat]

You should've looked round more carefully; there might well have been someone taking a photo of the three of you discussing taking photos of a photo of a photo.

[MattAlt]

I was half expecting Prince himself to come smashing through the wall afterwards, like Kool-Aid Man.

[hillsy]

What's the occasion (a visit to the Twins)? Didja stop by 'Sconnie?