New Museum – Ostalgia, a meal in itself

In his NYTimes review, Holland Cotter described Ostalgia at the New Museum as “a meal for adults,” so it would seem like a good bet for an inspirational lunch. You’ll probably need a good long chunk of time, though. There’s a lot to digest.

Ostalgia is an exploration of art as vital outlet, as coping mechanism, as messenger. Spanning all five floors of the museum, it is a huge collection of work produced by artists from countries across Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Republics. In all cases, their work speaks to their particular place and time. Photographer Nikolay Bakharev took portraits of bathers in various stages of undress on Russian beaches in defiance of an official ban on exposing bare flesh. Alexander Lobanov was deaf and mute and spent most of his life drawing intricate self-portraits from a Russian psychiatric hospital. He often presented himself with Stalin and Lenin and a magazine of firearms.

In the face of strict censorship, Andrei Monastyrski and his collaborators in Collective Actions made poetic banners that carefully toed the line of what was permitted to say. In a concurrent installation on Governors Island, Monastyrski’s banner waves across the water at the Statue of Liberty. It reads, “I Do Not Complain About Anything and I Almost Like It Here, Although I Have Never Been Here Before and Know Nothing About This Place.”

Ostalgia was extended through Oct 2nd, so take advantage! While you’re there, check out [Swi:t] Home: A CHANT in the lobby gallery. This cascading wave of fabric with hand-sewn paper scraps is artist Elena del Rivero’s collection of mementos. They came through the blown-out windows of her downtown studio on that fateful September day ten years ago, and they are beautifully preserved and remembered here.

Mull all of this over at Congee Village where the House Special Chicken is out of this world. A great tip from Lunch Studio: order the lunch size order of veggies over rice to round of the meal.

Ingredients:

Venue: New Museum

Artists: Nikolav Bakharev, Alexander Lobanov, Andrei Monastyrski, Elena del Rivero, Various Artists

Streets: Bowery, Prince – Spring Sts

Eats: Congee Village

Map:

BRUNCH - Bowery

Hooray for weekend brunch, my absolute favorite meal! Indulge in the Continental Pastry Basket and Frittata Caprese at Gemma. The atmosphere is so refreshingly unrushed, you’ll unabashedly stay to have an extra refill of their delicious coffee. Then head down the Bowery to the New Museum. If you have an extra minute, stop in John Derian, the enchanting home-décor shop on E 2^nd St., and have a look at the decoupage and ephemera. 

Finally, Lynda Benglis’ retrospective at the New Museum! The show spans four decades and gives you nearly every media you could imagine, from polyurethane to paper to video. I have to say I always feel a bit strange entering a retrospective of an artist I haven’t heard of (should I also feel embarrassed to admit I hadn’t heard of her?). Well, her sculptures are remarkable at creating life and movement and volume. They really are a “must see.” The highlight for me is Phantom, a series of oozing glow-in-the-dark sculptures that seem to float in mid air.  I found myself whistling the theme song to Ghostbusters and wondering if the guy who designed Slimer was influenced by this work. Hmmm. 

 

  Personally, I can’t spend too much time in museums, so I’m ready to move on, but, if you’re game, stay to see George Condo: Mental States and stop by the museum shop for some unique New York swag. Then be sure to stop by Salon 94. There’s a small collection of fountains by Ms. Benglis, a bit of extra credit for the gold star you earned at the museum. These speak directly to and still offer a great contrast to the museum’s homework.  

 These are great but not the reason I’ve been desperate to stop in Salon 94. That reason is Laurie Simmons The Love Doll: Days 1-30. Ms. Simmons, who usually works on a much smaller scale with Barbies and miniatures, this time photographed life-size, ridiculously realistic looking love dolls fresh from Japan. The results are mesmerizing. These photographs play tricks on you. There’s a rich life surrounding the woman who is their subject, but there is no life in her eyes. It’s kind of creepy and completely amazing.  

Ingredients:
Venues: New Museum; Salon 94
Artists: Lynda Benglis; Laurie Simmons
Streets: Bowery
Eats: Gemma
Map: