Blogging an Exhibition

Earlier in the week, Figure Painting pointed out that there are now two examples of Damien Hirst's work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art — in addition to the pickled shark on the second floor, there's a pair of Manolo Blahnik booties bearing the artist's signature dot pattern in the basement as part of the Costume Institute's exhibition blog.mode: addressing fashion.

Something else that caught our attention was a quote from Harold Koda, the Institute's Curator in Charge, included in the exhibition's introductory wall text:

While painting and sculpture can sometimes seem to be at an intimidating conceptual remove, fashion is so familiar, so ubiquitous to our experience that it is inherently and immediately accessible. Individuals who might shy away from commenting on the merits of a Juan Gris or Henry Moore will readily disclose their thoughts on a gown by John Galliano or a mule by Manolo Blahnik. Unlike its "high art" siblings, fashion, even in its most extreme and avant-gardist expression, draws us in with its personal relevance.

Having mulled this over for several days, here's some questions for Figure Painting readers:

Would a blog like the one the Costume Institute has created to accompany its current show work for an exhibition of, say, Old Master paintings or contemporary installation pieces?

Why? OR Why not?

Figure Painting's hunch is that a blog could be a way to open the gilded gate surrounding so-called high art and make people who are intimidated by it comfortable talking about it. Relative anonymity makes people bolder.

Manolo Blahnik by Damien Hirst, Boots, 2002, Photo Credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art