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MONKEY HOUSE
The monkey was, due to the similarity of his outer appearance to the human being, always a popoular motif to enable the comparison to human character traits. Not least this comparison seems to be justified by the fact that the theory of evolution declares the human being as the „crowne of creation“ which automatically leads to the image of the monkey as the subordinated creature. This logically entails that the character of the monkey is mostly taken in a negative way. In western culture this is proved by different sources. Fables for example have determined his nature as undisciplined, foolish, useless, lazy, brazen, silly and imitating.
In contrast to literature, visual arts can also handle outer qualities and therefore punch lines can be also worked out on a visual level. Nevertheless, it makes no equalizing differentiation. The ancient greek and roman philosophers taught that the monkey is an ugly beast with the consequent perception that it must be the embodiment of evil or morally bad.
Majewska does not implement the latter view with such a strictness, yet he uses the monkey to caricature the human being. The word monkey house is offering a hint: In German the monkey house (more chaotic than in the monkey house) means the place of chaos, disorder and noise. Sometimes, the monkey house also applies metaphorically to the condition in higher courts, it can describe political representatives, whose behaviour can be compared to the social behavior of monkeys, such as clapping (applause), screaming (during speech) or measuring of power. Majewska makes use of this symbolism and transcribes it into his works.
Because of the regular sequence of over 65 equal-sized straight forward looking, overlapping monkeys heads in monkey faces they firstly evoke an ornamental character of the artwork. A closer look then reveals that each head is unique. They have different colors, shapes and elaborate facial features, which lead to different facial expressions. That the monkey heads are not necessarily meant as such, shows the fact that monkeys and animals in general don't have specific facial expressions which could inform us about their emotions. The image seems to parody the diversity of human character and human emotions on which we don't have any influence in spite of our sophistication and the ability to control fleshly impulses.
In monkey parliament one can see one head repeating itself over and over again. Yet the faces have different expressions due to the individual bulge of each transparency on the canvas. The artwork is given an relief-like surface, so that, similar to a sculpture, multiple views are possible. Since the curves of each monkey's head are, however, differently nuanced, the viewer are offered multiple sights and this way different expressions at the same time. The black areas between the monkey's heads suggest the environment. Although they can be neither defined as a background nor as clearly defined areas, the first impression is full of associations. The monkeys could be dressed in black suits, which let the feeling arise that a mob of mercenary businessmen or politicians move towards one. Supported by their partial evil-smiling facial expressions and their red eyes they remind of the situation in which people are always capable of disabling moral reasoning and ethits to satisfy greediness as a nature-given survival instinct.
In the field of sculpture Majewska realised the idea of a monkey with some kind of headwear, who sits on the roof of a building. Through the stylization of the chrome-plated bronze house one suspects that not a particular house is meant, but that it represents a specific group of houses. For example, one might be reminded of an imposing building being part of a skyline of a major city like New York or Shanghai. The chromium, which as a noble metal coats the facades of the house, also has a representative significance and may indicate the valuable content of it. Following this interpretation the house could represent the domicile of a mighty company. The monkey as a funny and innocent being is used to contrast the house and stands for the visibly shown power of a being which invisibly controls everything (enemy in your house). The sculpture shows, using the formal superposition of the monkey, that the uncontrollable (natural disaster, crisis, personal destiny) dominates the too serious and sullen of life, and that comedy and satire is essential to face tragedy.
In Majewskas artworks the monkey is on behalf of the comedy, which, like the fable, is targeting on two different effects. Prodesse et delectare, a latin quotation of Horace's Ars Poetica says that poetry should be useful and be able to make us entertain at the same time. That this was seen similar in the visual arts gained currency since the 18th century through the work of Johann Joachim Winckelmann. The viewer should be able to enjoy the artwork but should not ignore the citicism, which engages as a subtle undertone. Majewska's paintings and sculptures show that this dual rail can be run differently.
Karin Schwettmann
-Art Historian- |
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