Elmgreen & Dragset are the artists behind Perrotin's Matignon gallery transformation. The artist duo created a massage parlor in the gallery. However, the parlor acts as the artists' new show titled The Touch.
Through the window, viewers can see a treatment room with a two-toned white and mint green wall. A bamboo rack sits in the corner of the room and holds massage oils, towels, and slippers. The center of the room features a massage bench where a life-size silicone figure lies face-down, covered by a white towel across his hips. According to the artists, the naked figure is deliberately ordinary in appearance, and the show is meant to comment on how we interact with our surroundings.
Image Credit: Elmgreen & Dragset
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Interactive Art Installations
- Creating immersive art installations that encourage viewers to interact with the space and objects
- Alternative Exhibition Spaces
- Using unconventional spaces such as massage parlors to present art exhibitions and challenge traditional gallery settings
- Conceptual Performance Art
- Exploring the intersection of performance, installation, and social commentary to challenge perceptions and provoke thought
Where This Applies
- Art Galleries
- Opportunities for galleries to experiment and push boundaries with unconventional exhibition spaces and interactive installations
- Massage Therapy
- Potential to collaborate with artists to create unique and immersive experiences for clients, offering a new perspective on the traditional spa visit
- Event Production
- Opportunities to create unconventional event spaces and experiences that challenge traditional expectations and encourage interaction and participation from attendees
