Wolfgang Laib at MOMA

I went to MoMA to see "Inventing Abstraction" and stumbled upon Wolfgang Laib's compelling pollen installation in the atrium on the last weekend of it's run.  Only having experienced one other work by Laib, I did not immediately recognize what this powdery substance was.  Watching the video it was revealed  that this glowing yellow substance was pollen - pollen that Laib had been collecting from the hazelnut bushes that grow in the part of Germany where Laib has lived for almost 30 years.  Measuring 18 x 21 feet, it was the largest pollen work he has created to date.  I found it ethereal, mysterious, spiritual, beautiful, thought-provoking and haunting.  I haven't stopped thinking about it for days.

Laib stated that "pollen is the potential beginning of the life of the plant.  It is as simple, as beautiful and as complex as this.  And of course it has so many meanings.  I think everyone who lives knows that pollen is important."  With all the talk and concern about bees and their importance in our food supply for the past few years knows, this is so true.  It just never occurred to me how this could be art.  I loved it and loved the serendipity of discovering and experiencing it.












Click here to watch the video about the making of this work:
http://www.moma.org/explore/multimedia/videos/253/1252

Click here to read Ken Johnson's review in the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/01/arts/design/wolfgang-laibs-pollen-from-hazelnut-at-moma.html?_r=0

Although I don't agree with the last part of his review, Johnson makes some very interesting points for contemplation.  Enjoy.