Michael Jackson and Bubbles, 1988

Michael Jackson and Bubbles is one of my personal favorite works of art. In a way this art work is kind of comical in the sense it is Michael Jackson and his Pet Chimpanzee Bubbles sitting together as a statue of gold. Not something you see every day. It is out of the norm. However, during this specific time era Jackson was extremely popular. Koons captured his look, and his life all in one simple sculpture.

I am personally a huge fan of Jackson, and this is almost an appreciation of him for being an icon in the Society. Koons big thing is to capture what is a cultural icon, what is something that will take you back to a time in your life, what is symbolic. From Koons’s Banality series, the piece is more than six feet long and sold for $5.6 million at an auction.

The Art work makes you stop and think. Both the chimp and Jackson are the same pale white color and the chimp is placed distinctly in Jackson's arms. Was this to questions Jackson's life style choices? Or just simply a coincidence that they strategically put there?

Work Cited http://broadartfoundation.org/artist_42.html

Rabbit

1986 "Rabbit," is one of Koons first balloon creations. Looks like a warm cuddly bunny, which in reality is hard cold stainless Steele bunny. Just 41 x 19 x 12 inch, this wonderful art creation has started an art trend to soon not be forgotten. The masterpiece is polished so no matter what angle you look at it, you will see yourself depicted in it.

Koons does not create balloon animals, and he is not much of a sculptor to be quite honest. He is more of one who jots down ideas and thoughts and has a whole crew of men help capture his concept. He on average has 35 assistants in his studio on hand to help him. "I'm basically the idea person. I'm not physically involved in the production. I don't have the necessary abilities, so I go to the top people..." Interview with Koons.

Koons is a perfectionist who is comparable to Andy Warhol and many other great artists. How ever Koons work is so timely and brings you back to a time in your life. Any one and everyone can relate to Koons work which I think is so great. "When I'm working with an object I always have to give the greatest consideration not to alter the object physically or even psychologically. I try to reveal a certain aspect of the object's personality. I'm placing the object in a context or material which will enhance a specific personality trait within the object. The soul of the object must be maintained..."Koons.

Work Cited http://www.balloonhq.com/highlights/koons/index.html

Hanging Heart

Koons work is primarily from objects that are popular in our culture today. As you can see in this art work he is show casing a hanging heart. To me it is representative of almost a valentines day heart, like box of chocolates, that is intricately wrapped with gold ribbon. Not only is it symbolic of a holiday but it is almost as if he is using this form of art to represent a real human heart. The heart can be broken and can be healed up (metaphorically of course,) here Koons is show casing the heart is hanging. It is left for you to decide.

The heart is one of 5 colored versions. it took Koons 10 years to come up with this wonderful master piece. The heart is made of Chromium stainless steel, and weighs over 3,500 pounds. It also took over 14 coats of paint to create. It was installed at Sotheby’s and is suspended from the ceiling in its 10th floor galleries. Its estimated value is between 15 to 20 million dollars!

The Hanging Heart is a celebration serious which also includes Balloon Dog, Balloon Flower, Moon and Hanging Heart. It is to celebrate the mile stones in life birthdays, aniversiers and other. It is remanesent of a childhood memory. It hangs only 16" above floor level from a structural beam, drawing the eye to the immediate center of the heart.

Work cited from www.sothebys.com/