Visitors Sprawl on Floors at 2 New York Installations as Museums Loosen Seating Rules
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 9
Visitors Sprawl on Floors at 2 New York Installations as Museums Loosen Seating Rules
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 9
Summary
Dozens of visitors at Park Avenue Armory’s “Clinamen” are sitting, kneeling and lying on the ground around three turquoise pools that generate sound as bowls drift and collide.
Little formal seating is available there, and even less at the Shed’s “Lightscape,” pushing audiences to choose their own viewing posture for works that blend sound, film and sculpture.
That informality is unusual in museum settings, where guards often stop patrons from sitting on the floor, but these shows borrow some of the relaxed, playground-like feel of immersive attractions.
The result is a more self-directed art experience—welcoming for children and casual viewers, but potentially uncomfortable for adults navigating long stretches on hard surfaces.