February 18, 2015 / Seth / Comments Off on “Blue Sail,” 1964-65; chiffon, oscillating fan, fishing weights, and thread.
A piece of chiffon is suspended over an oscillating fan that blows up and causes it to wave. Haacke believed that the aesthetics of this work could be, compared with traditional sculpture, a partner of the viewer rather than an interpretation.
A piece of light, white fabric covers the entire floor and four fans blow air that keeps the fabric floating in waves. The title, a descriptive term, shows that fantasies are irrelevant, concerning the Romantic nationalism of the Third Reich.
Teletype machines printed out messages transmitted by the DPA (Deutsche Presse Agentur – German Press Agency), New York Times, Reuters, and UPI (United Press International). The printouts accumulated in containers or on the floor and provided information that the news media was obtaining.