Beehive Volcano
Object NameSculpture Part with Cassette Player
Artist
Dennis Oppenheim
(American, 1938-2011)
Made FromGlass, Cassette Tape Players, Cassette Tape
Datedesigned in 1979; made in 1989
TechniqueMold-blown, applied
SizeOverall H: 35.5 cm, Diam: 35.5 cm
Accession Number93.4.91 A
Credit LinePartial gift of the artist
Curatorial Area(s)
Bees, beehives, and the communal industry that they represent are some of the themes of Beehive Volcano. Consisting of three mold-blown glass domes, the sculpture is accompanied by a soundtrack of buzzing bees. Here, Dennis Oppenheim compares the compressed social activity of the hive—and, by extension, any situation in which social behavior is controlled and suppressed—with the potentially explosive force of a volcano. The bright primary colors give the sculpture a playful, innocent air, masking the warning of its political message.
United States, NY, New York City
Provenance
Provenance information not currently available online. Please check back in the coming weeks.
Object copyright© Dennis Oppenheim