My first encounter with the art of Jeff Koons was at The Broad in downtown LA. The museum, named after philanthropist Eli Broad, is located next to the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall, and has a massive display of contemporary art, including three dozen paintings and sculptures by Koons.
The artist’s most popular—and probably most photographed—pieces are those inspired by twisted balloon animals and flowers.
“Rabbit,” created in 1986, was cast in highly polished stainless steel. His brightly colored, large-scale “Tulips” (1995-2004) is one of the major pieces that greet visitors who take the escalator to the top of the museum.
“The sculpture’s mirror-like surfaces have the eerie effect of including the viewer in their cool reflection,” read the museum notes.
Limited edition
Bernardaud, the French brand of china and dinnerware founded in Limoges in 1863, has partnered with Koons on a
limited-edition porcelain range consisting of Balloon Swan in magenta, Balloon Rabbit in violet, and Balloon Monkey in orange. Each comes with a six-figure price tag.
A total of nine pieces (three of each design) have been set aside for the Philippine market, and are available at the Bernardaud section in Rustan’s Makati. Worldwide, there are 999 pieces for each balloon animal.
“Balloon Swan harmonizes sexual energy,” Koons said in a statement. “If you look at it from the front, it’s totem-like and male. If you go to the side, it becomes female.”
Although the notes from The Broad describe the the mirrored surfaces as having an “eerie effect,” the artist said one of the things he is very proud of is “making work that lets viewers not feel intimidated by art… They can emotionally participate in it through their senses and their intellect, and be fully engaged.”
At the launch of the collection held in Rustan’s Makati last week, guests nibbled on canapés while peering at the balloon animals placed under protective acrylic boxes.
Bernardaud is exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La and Rustan’s Cebu.
