Lecture Entry: Mark Dion 2/5

Rarely have I been introduced to an artist as ambitious and hilarious as Mark Dion. The distinguished American artist discussed his interest in historical preservation, and how institutions have the power to influence history and the knowledge of the population. Dion acts as a collector, curator, and scientist, all to prove the point that we as a people are quick to take in what is presented as official, and not truly question it; he showed the institution in a ridiculous light, as he took upon the role of curator and arranged his collected "artifacts" according to a system of absurd classifications. Dion travels from one continent to the next, and often sets up (or creates his own) galleries in the country that he does his collecting. In one instance, he spent the afternoon ambling about Chinatown in New York City, and bought as much seafood as he could find. After gathering his material, Dion created an artificial lab in a New York gallery and began to preserve and classify his specimen. At first glance, his presentation seems formidable and academic, yet once you look closer, you discover his humorous intent. As an added show of authority, Dion placed false laboratory doors against the solid walls in the gallery. In another work, which was presented in the Venice Bienale, he sifted and sorted through a pile of debris which was dredged from the canals in Venice. With a team of helpers, Dion found a rich history, dating back centuries, within the waste. The objects gleaned from the mud were then sorted by form, color, and shape and placed in a series of tents.

Not all of his work is as approachable or accessible as the Venice dredge. In what is perhaps my favorite of Dion's work, he created a one-room flea market, isolated in the middle of a German forest. This tiny cabin bears the name Der Elster, or in English, The Magpie, and is filled to the rafters with bizarre findings. From the outside it appears to be a store, yet those who stumble upon it will find that it is never open. You can only stand on the outside and peer in at his collection. It is, in the artist's mind, that perfect store or oasis, a place that cannot be fully be reached. He has operated behind glass, wearing an official lab coat, during many performances, leading the audience to believe they are witnessing an expert hard at work at scientific classification and dating processes; those who follow Mark Dion's work know better.