Jason Rhoades
Shelf (Koo-Koo), 2003
Jason Rhoades
Shelf (Koo-Koo), 2003
Mixed media
289.6 x 391.2 x 61 cm
Jason Rhoades became well-known in the early 90s for his large-scale environments filled with hundreds of store-bought, altered, and handmade objects. Between 2003 and 2006, these constructions were often accompanied by neon signs that explicitly addressed sexuality and consumer culture. His multimedia installations combined elements of the visual language from contemporary American life. A firm believer in artist’s self-expression and freedom to tackle any subject, Rhoades went beyond notions of taste, social taboos, or political correctness. Shelf (Koo-Koo) exists in close relation to a larger installation titled Meccatuna (2003), where similar shelfs and structures were covered in neon words and phrases. The words that dress the metal furniture are all euphemisms for the female genitalia, from English as well as from various cultures and languages.