A beautiful young woman sleeps, dreaming of her true love. When his lips meet hers, her eyelids flutter open. Their eyes meet, and they fall instantly in love. She’s already conveniently attired in a wedding dress, so they get married immediately and live happily ever after.
The fairytale comes to life in an exhibit at the National Art Museum in Kiev, Ukraine. Ukrainian-Canadian artist Taras Polataiko recruited five women whom he described as “gorgeous, smart, and looking for love.” They took turns sleeping in the gallery, waiting to be kissed by onlookers. Both the “princesses” and any visitors venturing a kiss were required to sign a sort of prenuptial agreement stipulating that if the woman “woke up” upon being kissed, the two would wed.
The exhibit, which ended yesterday, didn’t end up resulting in any marriages, although one unsuccessful “prince charming” left his wished-for bride an ipad, his email address, and $400 to visit him at his home in Amsterdam.
Who’s with me in believing that if we can get Polataiko to re-create his exhibit at the BYU Museum of Art, it will be a smashing matrimonial success, and spawn a whole new generation of NCMO?
(AP Photo)
I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry.
When one reads the article you link to, there is much to ponder about the artistic and emotional dimensions of the experiment, including the reactions of visitors. See the contrast between the American man offering money to get the girl to see him in Amsterdam (symbolic city) and the man from a provincial Ukrainian town, “who knelt down before one Sleeping Beauty and wept because she didn’t wake up from his kiss. Polataiko [the artist] teared up as well.”
And then the undertone “… symbolizing the patience of the Ukrainian people trapped by what he calls the oppressive government of President Viktor Yanukovych, and hopes that the nation will one day awaken to true freedom.” Art is what you learn to see beyond.
At BYU? It would be quite an experiment, but I can already hear some reactions. Even Rodin’s The Kiss wasn’t allowed in.
You didn’t mention the “princess” who was awakened by a woman. That would really make the BYU MOA happy.
“Art is what you learn to see beyond.”
Perhaps at BYU, indeed throughout Mormon culture, we should worry about the princess who gets married and is never awakened.
#3 True, Aden. The MOA wouldn’t go for that. Of course, neither did the Ukraine.