Liza Lou, “Kitchen” (1991-1996)
Immediate Response
This piece was very appealing to me because of all the color and whimsical detailing, and I tend to use a lot of color in my personal work so I was very drawn to this. Immediately I can tell there is an immense amount of meticulous craftsmanship that went into making this. I love all the patterns on the walls and the floor, and it makes me feel as if I’ve stepped into a kitchen from ‘Alice in Wonderland’. It has a very surreal and dreamlike quality to it and I really enjoy just admiring the piece and all the little details that Liza Lou put into it.
Objective Description
The sculpture portrays a life-like kitchen with a very surreal quality to it. It is bright and colorful and the entire kitchen is covered in patterns. It features an array of everyday kitchen objects, pots, pans, branded food items, etc. The color palette is vibrant and the piece almost seems to shimmer as the light reflects on the glass bead mosaics. The patterns are stunning and the piece with the variety of colors and shapes in it almost camouflages itself. Every aspect of the kitchen seems to be magnified, with oversized cutlery and plates. The use of colors, glass beads, and light transforms a mundane kitchen into a visually immersive experience.
Technical Descriptions
The choice of materials is primarily colorful glass beads and wire. The use of these glass beads allows for a very mesmerizing effect that makes it seem almost luminous when the light reflects. The composition of the piece itself is a meticulously constructed kitchen. Lou’s attention to detail in replicating the everyday objects found in a kitchen is extraordinary. Each individual glass bead is placed with precision and care and the meticulous craftsmanship has deepened my appreciation for this work. The title itself does not provide much context for the work as it is very obvious, but it directs the viewer’s attention and underscores the ordinary, domestic setting.
The Work in the World
The choice of commonplace kitchen objects can resonate with viewers because of the familiarity, and these objects often go unnoticed, but seeing them meticulously crafted in this piece prompts us to think about their place in our lives. The attention to detail and use of individual glass beads can serve as a reminder that craftsmanship and artistry once permeated everyday life, but may have been overshadowed by modern conveniences. This piece also parallels other hyper-realism pieces where artists meticulously recreate everyday objects to challenge our perceptions. It is reminiscent of artists like Claes Oldenburg, who is known for his oversized sculptures of everyday objects like typewriters and hamburgers, and shares a conceptual kinship with Lou in their exploration of the ordinary.
The Story it Tells
Liza Lou’s “Kitchen” sculpture can serve as a compelling argument for the dignity of labor. This labor is intimately tied to gender roles, especially considering that crafts and kitchen work have historically been associated with women. By meticulously crafting everyday kitchen objects, “Kitchen” elevates the labor traditionally associated with women—cooking, cleaning, and caring for the home. Additionally, the artwork can also be seen as a commentary on American life and the American dream as it incorporates familiar products like Lays and Tide, symbolizing consumerism and commercialism as integral to the American experience.