The World is Yours

THE WORLD IS YOURS it said in bright lights at the top of the fine, old Louisiana villa. This sign, created by Norwegian artist Gardar Eide Einarsson, welcomed visitors to the museum's large-scale, international presentation of art as it unfolds around the world right now.

At the exhibition THE WORLD IS YOURS one was met by the great diversity of expressions and media found in the art of today: moving pictures, interactive installations, sound, sculpture, mass media, everyday materials, text, painting, collage, and even smells. Here we could experience works that addressed the great questions of contemporary society.

THE WORLD IS YOURS presented works that startled, involved, teased, provoked or left their mark on the viewer - or that very directly are dependant on our reactions.

Here we could meet a cloud of microphones snorting and humming (Shilpa Gupta). Sense the smell of fear, collected from men all over the world (Sissel Tolaas). Literally freeze at the sight of Olafur Eliasson's icy art car. Or use Monica Bonvicinis see-through mirrored toilet in the Louisiana park - if we dared.

Several of the works in THE WORLD IS YOURS showed something strange happening in otherwise familiar spaces or situations: As in a demonstration with participants holding mirrors in stead of signs (Mircea Cantor). Or an empty McDonald burger bar suddenly flooded with water (Superflex). Or being immersed in radio frequencies and with our bodies being able to control both images and sound.

This last-mentioned work, Frequency & Volume, was created by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, for whom art should provide "a platform for a good party." In the exhibition catalogue, featuring interviews with the 24 participating artists, Lozano-Hemmer explains:

"It need not be a happy party but I see the artwork as an environment that takes on a life of its own with the participation of the public... only when people interact with the pieces do
I begin to understand what the project is."

THE WORLD IS YOURS occupied the entire south wing of Louisiana and incorporated the museum park as well.