Jonathan Monk
Steps and Pyramid, 2015
Open Source / Mural Arts Philadelphia
Paine’s Park, Philadelphia
June - November 2015
Jonathan Monk created two site-specific temporary sculptures, entitled Steps and Pyramid, which were modeled after two works by Sol Lewitt in the Sculpture Garden of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Monk invited teenage skaters to study the sculptures and share their thoughts on how to make them functional, the teen’s recommended using Skatelite ramp surface as the primary material and enlarging the structure to fully accommodate a skateboard. Video interviews of the skater’s suggestions were sent to the artist in Berlin and proved essential to the design and activation of the work. For Monk, these works were not complete until the public interacted with them, which exemplifies his practice of reinterpreting artwork through humorous subversions, while challenging the typically precious nature of art objects.
Monks sculptures were placed in Franklin Paine’s Skatepark, which is located directly across the street from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. One could easily walk from the skatepark to see LeWitt’s concrete works resting serenely in the sculpture garden but don’t get too close, you cannot touch them. In contrast, Monk’s sculptures bore skate-able surfaces, allowing for a new interactive addition to Paine’s Skate Park, inviting skaters of all ages to touch, step, and skate upon the structures.
The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, commissioned Steps and Pyramid as part of the exhibition Open Source.
Guest Curator: Pedro Alonzo
Photo credits: Steve Weinik