The State Hospital
Artist
Edward Kienholz
(USA, 1927 - 1994)
Alternate Title
- Mentalsjukhuset
Date1966
MediumVarious material
Dimensions245 x 360 x 295 cm
ClassificationSculptures
Credit LinePurchase 1971
Countries
Object NumberNMSK 2094
The artwork is not on display
About the artworkLocked up, lethargic and isolated from the world. Like a freeze-framed scene from a play, the two figures lie huddled in the spartan hospital bunk bed. The stale smell is also part of the work. Edward Kienholz had worked for a short period in a mental institution and seen the unglamorous, shabby world within the asylum walls. The State Hospital criticises society and is a troubling work intended to engage the viewer. The installation, or "tableau" as the artist called his staged environments, contrasts sharply with the 1960s consumer society that is otherwise reflected in the shiny, anonymous surface of pop art. The era of pop art comprises many disparate expressions.
Selected exhibition history Pop Art & Nouveau Réalisme, ur samlingarna (1991-1992) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museets samling i ny presentation (1998-2000) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Edward Kienholz. '11+11 Tableaux' (1970) Institute of Contemporary Arts, London Samlingsutställning 2004 - 2011 - I vår tid (2004 - 2011) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museet c/o Malmö Konsthall (2003) Malmö Konsthall Sår:mellan demokrati och förlösning i samtida konst (1998) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues Wounds : image : between democracy and redemption in contemporary art : [Moderna Museet, Stockholm 14/2 - 19/4 1998]Wounds : text : between democracy and redemption in contemporary art : [Moderna Museet, Stockholm 14/2 - 19/4 1998]Pop Art & Nouveau realisme : ur Moderna Museets samlingar : Moderna Museet 26.12.1991 - 09.08.1992Edward Kienholz : 11+11 tableaux : [Moderna Museet, Stockholm 17 januari - 1 mars, 1970]Moderna Museet c/o Malmö Konsthall : [Malmö Konsthall : 8 februari - 4 maj 2003]
Selected exhibition history Pop Art & Nouveau Réalisme, ur samlingarna (1991-1992) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museets samling i ny presentation (1998-2000) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Edward Kienholz. '11+11 Tableaux' (1970) Institute of Contemporary Arts, London Samlingsutställning 2004 - 2011 - I vår tid (2004 - 2011) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museet c/o Malmö Konsthall (2003) Malmö Konsthall Sår:mellan demokrati och förlösning i samtida konst (1998) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues Wounds : image : between democracy and redemption in contemporary art : [Moderna Museet, Stockholm 14/2 - 19/4 1998]Wounds : text : between democracy and redemption in contemporary art : [Moderna Museet, Stockholm 14/2 - 19/4 1998]Pop Art & Nouveau realisme : ur Moderna Museets samlingar : Moderna Museet 26.12.1991 - 09.08.1992Edward Kienholz : 11+11 tableaux : [Moderna Museet, Stockholm 17 januari - 1 mars, 1970]Moderna Museet c/o Malmö Konsthall : [Malmö Konsthall : 8 februari - 4 maj 2003]