“They touch on the metaphysical: the right here right now and its connection to the past and the future. They’re about shine, the basics of philosophy, passion, what it means to be a human, what it means to be an animal, the idea of transcendence.”
That was Jeff Koons, genius or charlatan, depending on whom you talk to — an artist known for elevating children’s toys and vacuum cleaners to the stature of the Greek gods, sitting in the office area of his 35,000-square-foot studio meditating on his latest project: a multifaceted series he has been working on under conditions of the utmost secrecy for well over a year, entitled “Masters.”
Now, on the verge of the unveiling, Mr. Koons was sparkling of eye, beatific of mien and bountiful of reference. “Working on this, I felt a sense of my own potential, and the sharing of that with a large community,” he said happily.
What was this wormhole to the eternal?
Another enormous public sculpture, like “Split Rocker,” the 37-foot-high flower-covered rocking horse bust that had pride of place in Rockefeller Center in 2014? A museum retrospective, like the career-defining show at the Whitney the same year?
Broaden your minds, people! A new line of handbags.
Also scarves, key chains and small leather goods, including wallets and laptop sleeves — 51 pieces in all — done in collaboration with the French luxury house Louis Vuitton. Though Mr. Koons has flirted with fashion before, working on one-off collections with Stella McCartney and H&M, this is the first time he has created an original design for a brand, as opposed to simply plunking a reproduction of his work onto a product or remaking a sculpture as a necklace.
Read more at The New York Times.