Art is weird.
It is with a passionate sense of pride that we often gush over the city’s art scene. From the graffiti canvases in the streets to the priceless art pieces that fill the galleries of its museums, Houston is a bastion for artists of all types. While some artists might be inclined to create something pretty, there are others who’s self-determined task is to provoke thought, intrique, and perhaps even disgust. While many of us can easily see the merit of a commissioned mural or a Matisse painting, some may scratch their head at other pieces.
Now on display at the Menil Collection, visitors can set their senses on Robert Gobers’ Untitled – a contemporary art piece that we can, in no other way, describe as a hairy block of cheese.
“It’s baaaaaaccckkkkk,” the museum wrote in an Instagram post. “Have you seen the new installation in our Modern and Contemporary galleries? We’re taking you #behindthescenes with our conservation team as they prepped Robert Gober’s ‘Untitled,’ 2005, to go on view.”
The sculpture was one of Gobers’ many forays into transforming the ordinary into profane through minimal alterations to the appearance.
“He is an artist whose images and processes are deeply engaged with the everyday and at the same time profoundly disruptive of it,” said Ann Temkin.
While the cheese wedge itself is made of beeswax, viewers will not find much comfort in knowing that its “hair” is actually human hair.
Untitled by Robert Gobers is now on display at the Menil Collection at 1533 Sul Ross St. In addition to this piece, the museum contains 17,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, drawings, and rare books. It is free to the public.
Other artists with works on display include Francis Bacon, Jean-Michel Basquiate, René Magritte, and Marcia Kure.
See also: Immersive “Uncensored” BANKSY Exhibition Coming To Houston This Summer
Photo credit: @rocor via Flickr