9/11 wrap-up with Paul Schimmel

MAN: I've been surprised at how little really interesting, really thought-provoking work there's been about 9/11 in the last six years. Are you?

Paul Schimmel: I think I'd be even more surprised if there was more interesting work. I'm not surprised given the greatness of it and yet it's really surprising given that artists don't deal that often with contemporary history. And yet some do, of course.

What's also been interesting to watch is that I know for a fact there have been interpretations related to 9/11 were a little perplexing, that is the way the public has interpreted works of art in the last six years. We were installing Nancy Rubins' plane-parts-based sculpture at MOCA and we got some responses that were a little bit perplexing.

MAN: I noticed that two of your picks were Europeans and two of your picks work in the US. Does that mean anything about how different people see 9/11 or such?

Schimmel: I think that how people look at it obviously is different. Looking at the work I wouldn't be able to refer to specifically where the artist is from. At the same time I think it's obvious that you think if you're a New Yorker, why you wouldn't go there.

But speaking of the Europeans: Luc's thing is more abstracted and contextual, yet in some ways no less political than the Hirschhorn. The two Europeans deal with it in almost in a cause-and-effect kind of way. American democracy versus consumerism.

MAN: I've also been surprised by this: Not a single major museum, not even in NYC or DC, has done a show about work made in response to 9/11. Not a one. Any guesses as to why? Did the critically-panned, Lawrence Rinder-curated 2003 Whitney show titled The American Effect scare off some curators from doing a show such as this?

Schimmel: No, no. You tell me a theme show that hasn't had the crap beaten out of it in New York. Why single out that one? As blockbusters, as theme shows go, it's probably... maybe it's still too close.

Reminder: Bloggers, post the artistic responses to 9/11 that you've appreciated and email them to me here.

Coming next week: MoMA curator Ann Temkin.