Nicolas Berggruen, a top-level patron of museums, recently sat down with the Los Angeles Times to discuss his vast contribution to the growth of museums such as LACMA. In his more recent contributions, Berggruen bought Burden’s work and promptly loaned it to LACMA for at least ten years, to which Burden claimed that “it takes a brave person to buy something that complicated.” It’s no wonder the Metropolis II received so much attention from media when Berggruen proves to be a heavy influence in the art collecting realm of the Los Angeles area and has numerous Hollywood connections.
No matter what age, the Metropolis II seems to amaze all types of people and ages. The mini city with its 1,100 Hot Wheels-sized cars and trains racing throughout the abstract buildings and freeways is placed at the center of a room that allows viewing at ground level and on an upper level. Children are seen running around it, gum-chewing teenagers are seen taking pictures with their iPhones, and adults are seen discussing the structure of the design with a nearby gallery attendant. For all ages, the complexity of all the twisting and turning cars veering off in all sorts of direction befuddles spectators and allows inclined interest in the workings and symbolic meaning of the piece.
One of the many spectators, Hannah Chang, a sophomore who plans to become a museum curator, says the experience of the artwork “was as if you were being sucked into the tiny city” and also claims that “it has the ability to mesmerize not only the kids but also adults.”
The Metropolis II will be on display for the next 9 years and 9 months, so there is plenty of time to go and experience the mini representation of the bustling 21st century city life for yourself.
Source: Los Angeles Times
