Blow up

Here’s a mind puzzle for you. In 2003 Jeff Koons cast a set of inflatable monkeys in aluminium and painted them to look just like the originals (Monkeys (Chair) from the Popeye series). The three monkeys hung from the ceiling with the bottom of the three holding onto a chair that swung free of the floor. To look at the works you'd swear they were inflated plastic, to touch them (while the guard wasn’t looking) was to know they were metal. 

The other day in a gift store in Wellington we were surprised to see the same 'sculpture' displayed in the window only this time it was really made of inflated plastic monkeys, the same ones Koons used. If you want to make your own Monkeys (chair) go here (chair not included).

Images: Top left, available inflatable monkeys, right, Koons Monkeys (chair) and bottom, the Wellington version

Getting into shape

So you all love the idea of belting out a good Tree song in front of a Calder do you? OTN is happy to present this DIY kit so you can do just that in the comfort of your living room. All you need is wire, card, scissors, a boom box and a good strong light.

Instructions (from Popular Science Monthly, 1954 )

1. Cut abstract shapes from cardboard or light-gauge sheet metal.

2. For the arms, bend the ends of soft 16-gauge wire into loops and attach the cut-out shapes.

Images: left, all you need. Right, Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump with finished product c.1963.