Artist provides satirical take on fine art world
In “Koons Ruins at the James Estate” at New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) (on view through Nov. 27), Bay Area artist Kathy Aoki provides humorous relief from the “art market tyranny” of artist Jeff Koons with her conceptual and satirical exhibition, according to a press release.
Aoki uses a sharp tongue to poke fun at the patriarchy of the fine art world and create an immersive experience for visitors.
The exhibition tells the story of fictional art collector Dorothea James whose growing dislike of Koons’ art leads her to take destructive action. James begins to acquire some of his most famous pieces, sticks them in the ground on her secluded estate, and subjects them to accelerated degradation with the help of hired chemists. When James passes away, her estate is open to the public and becomes known to the world as “Koons Ruins.”
Set up as a faux history museum exhibit, Koons Ruins treats visitors to this satirical story of the James estate, complete with depictions of Balloon Dog and other works by Koons half-buried in the dirt. Visitors can even “visit” the James Estate through a peephole diorama featuring Koons’ Lobster sculpture stuck in an acid pit.
Known for her mock museum installations that question the importance of society’s foibles from the Hello Kitty brand to the ubiquitous nature of cosmetics, Aoki began the Koons Ruins series in 2012 with a drawing of an abandoned Balloon Dog sculpture deteriorating in a field. In 2019, she followed up with images of Lobster hidden in the bushes.
When NUMU curator Julie Ericsson reached out to Aoki about creating a show this year, the two decided that this was the perfect opportunity to create an immersive and satirical Koons Ruins exhibition.
“Using revisionist tactics, my work operates both within and against the language and signifiers of institutions such as museums and monuments,” Aoki said of her practice. “I often employ didactic wall labels, audio tours, and reverential vitrines to parody the ubiquitous authority, pomp, and self-assurance of institutional conventions. The humor is key…Satire and a feminist agenda are present consistently throughout my visual arts career, regardless of medium.”
“We were able to subvert the ‘normal’ process of creating a museum exhibition and instead curate something new, witty and thoroughly enchanting for our visitors,” Ericsson said. “When guests find themselves at the James Estate, they are forced to not take everything at face value, and this rewires how they view the rest of the museum. It’s captivating to watch that process time and time again.”
A reception is scheduled for Oct. 20 from 5-8, featuring a performance by Aoki as “curator.”
For information, visit numulosgatos.org.
Santa Clara Valley Wineries celebrate end of harvest
The Wineries of Santa Clara Valley will be hosting its second annual Vine-to-Wine event on Oct. 23 from 1-4pm at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga.
Vine-to-Wine will be an afternoon celebrating the end of harvest and is where Santa Clara Valley wineries and wine makers are highlighted.
Wine lovers can choose a VIP or general tasting experience. The VIP experience begins an hour earlier than the general and is where participants will sample nine reserve tastings led by Matthew Kaner—named one of the Sommeliers of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine and named as one of the 40 Under 40 Tastemakers by Wine Enthusiast. A 30-minute tour of the historical Paul Masson winery will follow the tasting.
The general tasting begins at 1pm. Wine lovers will be tasting award-winning wines from more than 20 wineries—including sparkling and dessert wines at the Bubbly Bar. Gourmet bites will be prepared by Kneaded Bread & Catering, a non-profit, no-cost culinary arts vocational training program for youth and young adults in Santa Clara County.
A marketplace will showcase Barrel Dreams custom wine barrel furniture and home décor, California Craft House will showcase their lasered wood products, including wine boxes, and Coravin will be demonstrating their wine preservation products. Two local bands will also perform: Matt Masih & The Messengers, and The Singer and Songwriter Duo.
Those arriving from out-of-town are encouraged to take advantage of discounts being offered by two local hotel partners—Hotel Valencia in Santana Row and Toll House Hotel in Los Gatos.
“Vine-to-Wine, which describes the life cycle of the grape, is an annual event for us to celebrate the end of harvest and our award-winning wineries, while raising more awareness of our region,” said Stacy Giannini, director of marketing for Wineries of Santa Clara Valley. “We chose to celebrate this year’s event with wine lovers at the Mountain Winery, a venue with stunning views overlooking the Bay Area and that definitely sets the stage for delighting the senses.”
To purchase tickets, visit santaclarawines.com.
Sales support the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley, a non-profit organization. Its mission is to raise funds to provide scholarships and grants to graduating high school seniors planning to major in Viticultural or Enology. Funds will also be used for operations, to market the Santa Clara Valley AVA and member wineries.
