It makes perfect sense that Ilya and Emilia Kabakovs and the National Arts Club would end up together at some point in history.
Both are involved in the business of education, but while the National Arts Club wishes to educate its patrons about important artists and movements, the Kabakovs would rather educate them on conceptual art, which has been the focus of the Kabakovs since the 1950’s. The USSR transplants communicated this during the monthly “Sunday Salon” hosted in the largest of the club’s sitting rooms at the storied 15 Gramercy Park South location of the club.
In a Q & A session involving Emilia Kabakov, the ‘public face’ of the duo, members and public guests were able to hear first-hand about the Kabakovs experience. It was a rare event, considering the Kabakovs are notorious for giving the media the “cold shoulder”. That said, the average Kabakov piece doesn’t leave the viewer in the dark in regards to its conceptual value or explanation. In fact, many pieces have lengthy essays and information for the viewer. Especially with works such as a multi-level opera house and performance, the viewers are given a written text account, in exquisite detail, each working piece, the music, and the sensations. This comes with a scale model and countless sketches. The Kabakovs are fully away of the power of serious art, art that makes an impression, a lasting impact, and perhaps most importantly, is easily repeatable in the future. With conceptual art, the idea is the art, rather than the final execution.
There are infinite ways to conceptualize or interpret anything. Emilia cited children as being the best at conceptual art. As for the other works on display in both the Grand Gallery and the Gregg Gallery at the National Arts Club, there is a very playful, warmly distorted theme, with primary sketches in black ink, gorgeous Cyrillic script, and models in fine balsa wood. The ship, the opera, the ‘How to Meet an Angel’ all employ this wood and curiously suspended elements. This exhibit includes drawings of realized installations and models of the same, as well as projects which include the construction of complex artistic objects. These integrated installations complement and correspond to their specific geographic location.
The idea of freedom and the expansion of social societies is present in each project. The show runs from now until November 29th . The Sunday Salon is a monthly series hosted by the National Arts Club. 15 Gramercy Park South, New York, NY 10003. (212) 475-3424. Admission is Free.
-Benjamin Schmidt
