Furniture Sculpture 1979

John Armleder made this "Furniture Sculpture" by placing stacks of folded towels under two glam chandeliers. It's kind of a funny juxtaposition, right? The towels are neatly folded, a beautiful gradient of hues, from cool blue to warm beige, but they’re still just stacks of towels. They’re soft, absorbent, functional, and grounded. Above them, these chandeliers jut out, catching and reflecting the light. It’s like he's setting up a conversation between the mundane and the spectacular, which, for me, raises all sorts of questions about value, taste, and the spaces we inhabit. I can’t help but think of Fluxus and their playful disruption of art world norms. Armleder was associated with the movement early in his career, and you can see their influence here. Like them, he's pulling apart our expectations and asking us to reconsider what art can be. It's not about finding one right answer, but about embracing the delightful mess of possibilities.