“This and That” is an occasional series of paired observations. See past “This and That” posts here. – Ed.
Today: Puzzles
Since lockdown last March, puzzles have become undeniably popular. In addition to the numerous puzzles found in museum gift stores depicting well-known museum collections and artworks, there’s been rushes on puzzles on Amazon, at bookstores, and nearly everywhere else.
As with all things, artists have been using puzzles, or the concept of puzzles, in their work for a long time. Here’s a look at some of those pieces.
San Antonio artist Ana Fernandez’s BOO puzzle from the Art Puzzle Project
Kristin Capp, Puzzle, Palacios Hotel, Texas. Gelatin silver print, 1996, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of Ralph Gibson. Image © Kristin Capp.
Petra Hartman, “Puzzle” Brooch. Collection of the MFAH, Helen Williams Drutt Collection, museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Foundation.
Gabriel Dawe, Missing No. 4. 24 karat gold on puzzle in artist frame, 2019. From a recent exhibition at Talley Dunn Gallery, Dallas.
Vija Celmins, Puzzle. Oil on wood, 1965-66, Collection of MoMA, Gift of Edward R. Broida. Image © Vija Celmins.
Louise Bourgeois, Fenelon. Spray paint, synthetic polymer paint, pencil, and ballpoint pen on jigsaw puzzle, 1994, Collection of MoMA, Gift of Sarah-Ann and Werner H. Kramarsky and an anonymous donor. Image © The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY.
Benjamin Patterson, A piece from A Volume of Collected Poems, Volume 7. Collage on card, paper and linen boxes, plastic bag, 1962, Collection of MoMA, The Gilbert and Lila Silverman Fluxus Collection Gift. Image © Ben Patterson.
And of course, we can’t forget Al Souza (who also, coincidentally, was the subject of one of Glasstire’s first reviews).
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No matter how original, innovative or crazy your idea, someone else is also working on that idea. Furthermore, they are using notation very similar to yours. – Bruce J. MacLennan
2 comments
Don’t forget Felix Gonzalez-Torres photos as puzzles in plastic bags…
There is also Tim Klein who mixes puzzles into surreal scenes.