Art-world people are not often asked to sit in silence for 20 minutes (there is just too much gossip and secrets to spill). The crème de la crème of New York’s art scene nonetheless sat, without chatting, in St James’ Church on the Upper East Side earlier this week, taking in Yves Klein’s Monotone-Silence Symphony, which includes a segment of enforced quietude. In a moving performance organised by Lévy Gorvy Dayan, the S.E.M. Ensemble held a single note for 20 minutes, ushering in the audience silence to produce a “sensation of endless duration”, says a project statement. The Australian actor Sam Worthington and musician Beck were spotted soaking up the meditative Klein experience (but we also definitely spotted one or two maverick visitors texting during the symphony’s lull—naughty).
Art star burns up
Takashi Murakami shares his recovery from a fever on his Instagram
Takashi Murakami/Instagram
The Japanese artist Takashi Murakami is not having the best week. The headline-hitting art star and entrepreneur posted a concerning update on Instagram about his stressed state following a recent event at the Brooklyn Museum, which is hosting the show Hiroshige’s 100 Famous Views of Edo (feat. Takashi Murakami) until 4 August. Murakami highlighted that after his “autograph session”, he was feeling “depressed because I was being chased by someone who didn’t care about my fears or anything”. He then developed a fever of 102.2°F and was zoomed to hospital, where worried doctors placed him on an IV drip. Thankfully, Murakami’s fever has dissipated, and his Covid-19 test was negative (get well soon, Mr Murakami).
A loving tribute
Chris Martin’s tribute to the late poet, artist and activist John Giorno
Gareth Harris
John Giorno, who died in 2019, was loved and revered by many of his peers—including the artist Chris Martin, whose painterly tribute to the late poet, artist and activist is on show at David Kordansky Gallery’s stand at Frieze New York. Giorno’s smiling face takes centre stage in an uplifting glittery collage called John’s Smile (2023), which also includes a “self-portrait” of Martin (as a very happy frog). In a tribute to Giorno screened by The Brooklyn Rail in 2021, Martin highlights “the incredible courage of Andy Warhol and John Giorno [in the 1960s] to be honest and celebratory about homosexuality, and this was a really shocking thing”. Giorno’s romances remain part of art-world folklore.
Very off brand
Paulo Nazareth’s plastic shopping bag emblazoned with a luxury brand name
Gareth Harris
Capitalism works in funny ways, as the Brazilian artist Paulo Nazareth demonstrates via his head-turning work on show at Mendes Wood DM’s stand at Frieze New York. Nazareth’s arrangement of plastic shopping bags augmented with luxury brand names such as Balenciaga and Burberry (Balanzsa & Rasga, 2024) fill a wall of the stand, accompanied by a new painting depicting a Celine bag. Nazareth is looking at “who is exploiting whom”, says a gallery spokesperson, alluding to the artist’s mischievous rebranding of high-end labels. Nazareth offered the bags on Canal Street in 2022, “performatively selling” the items.
Hope on parade
Ines Doujak’s signs and sculptures on display at Cara, alongside her costumes
Photo: Luis Corzo, Courtesy Center for Art, Research and Alliances
A parade of artists, musicians and activists will take to the streets of Manhattan this Saturday (4 May) for the Hope Against Hope gathering, which brings to the fore key women fighting against environmental degradation. The march is the latest in a series of parades conceived by the Austrian artist and activist Ines Doujak. Participants are invited to wear costumes designed by Doujak—currently on view at the Center for Art, Research and Alliances (Cara). The parade will begin at Cara (225 West 13th Street) at 2pm and end at 5pm at the New York City Aids Memorial.
New York titan
The Brooklyn novelist Paul Auster died this week after a long illness, aged 77
Spencer Ostrander
Devotees of the great Brooklyn novelist Paul Auster were sad to hear this week of the death of the celebrated author, aged 77. Auster is known for his great literary opus The New York Trilogy, but he was also obsessed with the art world, as seen in Double Game, published by Violette Editions in 1999, which was the first book by the French artist Sophie Calle published in English. In this very meta saga, Calle tells the tale of Maria, who originally appeared in Auster’s novel Leviathan, and Auster invents the Gotham Handbook, which offers “Personal Instructions for SC on How to Improve Life in New York City”. The UK sculptor Rachel Whiteread told us recently that she has “totally devoured everything that [Auster] wrote”. RIP Paul.