06. QUESTIONING THE FOUNDATIONS

"Questioning the Foundations" was an installation created by Clare Ultimo, and originally shown in "Big Art in Small Places" at Judson Memorial Church, NYC, 1997. It was shown a second time in 2000, in "Liveartist", a Performance Celebration of the History and Legacy of Judson House. The show commemorated the last days before Judson House would be torn down to make room for NYU lawyer dorms. (!) Both were presented by Peculiar Works Project. Find out more about Peculiar Works in the "Esteemed Friends" section of the Links Page.

The installation was accompanied by a soundtrack that played continuously. I whispered the questions and statements to each 'person' and this could be heard as you got close to that particular underwear. The effect was quite startling...if girdles could talk! No answers were given to these whispering questions. They were simply posed and left in mid-air, sort of like what happens in life...

Each question and/or statement was also illustrated on each piece. You can read how the underwear "answers" if you click on text below each.

DAD: You mean something to me, so who are you?
MOM: You are something to me, but what is it?
CHILD CLARE: You are something without me, but it's hidden to me.
BOY COUSIN: You were something before we met each other, but I can never know who that was.
FIRST BOYFRIEND: You will be someone else when I'm not there, but who is that?
CLARE AT 21: You can be something completely real, but I can't touch you.

Questioning the Foundations> Installation

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