I was delighted to see the work of Paola Pivi in the Palm Beach penthouse of Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch featured in my last post. The interior is spectacular, yet I love that the designers and the owners does not take it too seriously. How could one not smile having a overscaled pink feathered polar bear hanging about in the corner? Art is so subjective for both the creator and the viewer. Some want to be challenged with provocative work; some prefer to escape into a fantasy world; and others just want to be inspired by a feeling, color or subject matter. Paola Pivi perfectly captures the expressive nature of these majestic creatures that make them so lovable.
A review of Pivi’s 2013 show at Gallerie Perrotin by Blouin ArtInfo…
It’s a rave menagerie of neon polar bears partying at Galerie Perrotin in New York. Italian Artist,Paola Pivi, inaugurates the gallery’s new Upper East Side location—its third contemporary art space after Paris and Hong Kong — with eight of her audacious polar bear sculptures. Apart from the soiree of life-size dancing bears, the show also comes with a playful and intellectually-stimulating title, “Ok, You Are Better Than Me, So What?”
From a distance, these adorable fluorescent bears in hues of magenta, electric blue, and lime green look life-like. However, before PETA starts throwing a fit about animal cruelty, Pivi clarifies that they are not real. Instead, they are made with urethane foam, plastic, and encrusted with chicken feathers. To achieve the uncanny bear resemblance, Pivi collaborated closely with a Canadian taxidermist to sculpt them into their quirky postures.
“I want to achieve the best,” said Pivi. “When his [the taxidermist’s] hands are better than mine, I want to ask him if I can use his hands.”
If you think Pivi’s polar bear sculptures are out of this world, wait until you head to the gallery’s basement where her performing sculpture, “Money Machine (True Blue, Baby I Love You)” spits unsuspecting viewers with occasional dollar bills , quarters or pennies. Yes, we’re talking about REAL U.S dollars that lucky visitors can either take home or be kind Samaritans and leave them on the gallery floor for others.
Between the underground money machine and zany titles for each disco bear, Pivi continues her tradition of letting viewers assemble their own meaning of the pieces they encounter in the installation.
“Deep in the core there is something similar in all of us, said Pivi. “When we make art, we can communicate on that level.”
“We Never Danced Before?”
“It’s Not Fair!”
“Please Don’t Change My Name…”
Click here to see the charming interview with the artist elaborating on her inspirational behind these delightful creatures.
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