JEFF KOONS. Split-Rocker, 2000. Stainless steel, soil, geotextile fabric, internal irrigation system, and live flowering plants. 446 7/8 x 483 1/8 x 427 5/8 inches. Edition of 1 plus 1 AP. Credit: (c) Jeff Koons. Courtesy Gagosian Gallery. Photography by Tom Powel Imaging.
American artist, visionary, and pioneer Jeff Koons will have his retrospective show displayed at the Whitney Museum of Art this month, starting June 27th. Koons will be the first to occupy nearly the entire space of the Whitney’s Marcel Breuer building. This art-takeover will highlight the relocation of the historic museum to a larger space in the Meatpacking District at the end of 2014.
Prior to the opening of this exhibit, on June 25th, a reveal of one of his most exclusive sculptures will take place at 30 Rock Plaza, where the Christmas tree stands each year.
In addition to being honored as the Whitney’s final act, Koons will be installing his iconic 37-foot-tall, toy-like sculpture, “Split-Rocker,” at Rockefeller Center, two days before his exhibition’s debut on June 27th. The monumental figure, weighing a whopping 150 tons, is made up of two halves. One half was inspired by a toy pony, while the other was influenced by a dinosaur figure; both of which were created by Koons’ son. These two halves form a ginormous rocker blanketed with multi-colored, fresh flowers.
The Whitney Museum has been serving the culturally hungry in its uptown home for 48 grand years, so make sure you drop by to feed your eyes with Koons’ lifelong collection before the museum relocates. And definitely don’t forget to pay your respects to the “Split-Rocker” at the heart of midtown this summer.
– Mariah Brown
