Almost everyone has seen it: an image of what looks like a giant balloon-animal dog shining a metallic hue of blue. Of course, the giant stainless steel structure is a work by sculptor Jeff Koons, who is among the many modern artists who have work displayed on the blank, minimalistic third level of The Broad. Other balloon sculptures of his exhibited include “Tulips” and “Rabbit,” all works with straightforward names.
Located in downtown LA, The Broad is a relatively new building founded in 2015 by philanthropist Eli Broad. It hosts an array of modern art, each piece more ambiguous than the next. Probably the most famous attraction is Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room, a mirrored room filled with LED lights. It is worth seeing despite the long wait line and can be visited with the free general admission ticket. Although it’s the size of storage shed, the lights appear to stretch out in an endless expanse of space.
Photo by Minyi Situ
Not only does The Broad have quite a few entertaining items, the building itself is an architectural beauty with a honeycomb design webbing the outside of the irregularly shaped building. There is an oval indent near the center of the building, just as inexplicable as some of the art inside the building.
The Broad’s 2,000 pieced collection of artworks feature works from quite a few iconic artists—and although their art is notable, there are other bizarre creations that deserve recognition, such as Robert Therrien’s “Under the Table.” In a room bordered by white walls, there sits a whopper of a table and chair set. The sculpture is charming and rather whimsical, inviting viewers to weave around and underneath the table.
As for the famous artists featured, there is Roy Lichtenstein, who is famous for his eye-catching, comic-styled pop art, and Andy Warhol, most well-known for his “Campbell’s Soup Cans.” The latter artist’s work at The Broad includes “Rorschach,” a giant ink blot on a canvas, as well as his “Two Marilyns,” featuring partially blackened images of Marilyn Monroe’s face. Among the giants of modern art is Ed Ruscha, whose most strange work on display was “Angry Because it’s Plaster, Not Milk,” which displays a smoothly painted bird diving towards what appears to be a glass of milk.
The list of artworks that promote a feeling of intrigue or appear disconcerting are endless, but with the large selection of abstract art, there are works that seem absurd with their simplicity or undecipherable nature. The ludicrousness, however, is a means of art exploration and stretching the boundaries towards self-expression. The Broad’s array of works demonstrates the power modern art holds when each piece of work makes you wonder “Why?”
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