New York 2007. The Baskervilles, one of those underrated bands in indiepop, is playing their Popfest gig. They are doing such a fine job, Rob, with his new wavy haircut, is singing “I Danced With Kate Moss” and I’m dancing wishing Kate Moss was there. They decide it’s time to end their set. They will cover the TVP’s “I Remember Bridget Riley”. I’m thrilled. The Delancey is as hot as a cauldron but that won’t impede me to keep singing and dancing a brilliant song. And I keep going while the New Yorkers try to find a place to sit down.
New York 1965. Bridget Riley arrives to America and she is featured in the ‘Responsive Eye’ exhibition at the MOMA. Her work arouses suspicion. Her optically disorienting paintings had critics complaining of an unfeminine aggression. Abstractionists accused her ‘opticality’ of being just pure gimmickry. But people embraced her, her motifs migrated onto dresses in shop windows. And god knows how pretty a girl can be wearing one of this.
Miami 2008. The Art Basel fair. Jennifer and me are going to the main event, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. It’s a huge festival. There are so many tourists from all over. The amount of artwork under this roof is really overwhelming. Post-modern art has taken over. It’s all about the concept. The prices for any of these pieces is exorbitant. We stop at a Rauschenberg painting and Jennifer doesn’t like it. We stop at a Bridget Riley monochromatic illusion. Jennifer wants a dress with the motif. And I think she is totally right. She does understand art.
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