And a madhouse of fun the show proved to be. When Gugg curator Robert Rosenblum visited the artist's studio in June, he found the artist in a state of productive procrastination. Koons and his mini-team of four assistants digitally scan images from department store catalogues, fashion magazines, cereal boxes and candy wrappers, and then manipulate them on a computer until a pleasing composition is found. The show runs until Jan. 14, 2001. Earlier in the day, Koons had courteously given me a guided tour of the show.
People respond to the mildest millimeter of flesh.
But the flesh was absent, cut-out of sight. I queried in disbelief. He then gave me a quick demonstration of exactly what he meant. Quite the convincing performance, I must say. What was not so convincing was the attempt that morning made by co-curator Lisa Dennison to stress what a perfectionist painter Koons is, who was supposedly working on the paintings up until 6 a.m. that day.