Many of you may know him for his current rock aquarium on the roof of the MET, or his recent retrospective exhibition making it’s rounds at contemporary museums around the world (The Centre Pompidou in Paris, Los Angeles County Museum of Art [LACMA], and The Museum Ludwig in Cologne). Either way- you will definitely remember Pierre Huyghe after you see his new installation at MoMA.
French conceptual artist, Pierre Huyghe’s acclaimed work Untilled (Liegender Frauenakt) [Reclining female nude] (2012), will be displayed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City starting today, June 16th through mid-August.
The piece, consisting of a cast concrete female figure reclining on a plinth, will also have a real functioning beehive for a head, along with very real bees. (Seriously.)
Apparently, the live colony of bees are considered to be a “gentle breed,” meaning viewers really have nothing to worry about – but if you’re allergic it would probably be a good idea to keep your distance…
The natural cycle of bee colonies are most active during summer months, hence the museum’s decision to introduce this “dynamic community” to the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden this summer. First shown at dOCUMENTA (13) in Kassel, Germany, Untilled was praised by critics, proving Huyghe’s creative installation to be both safe and mesmerizing.
Huyghe has always created art works that are interactive with humans. Viewers are able to conceptuality appreciate the living systems and symbolism behind the sculptures, while also becoming a part of them.
But again, we would strongly advise keeping some healthy distance…
