Now this is downright bizarre. Imagine being on display in a museum. Correction: Imagine getting paid to sleep for an exhibit...and be on display.
That's what the New Museum of Contemporary Art (hey, you knew it'd have to be contemporary) in Manhattan is offering. This past week the museum sought women ages 18 to 40 to participate in a new exhibit that would have them taking sleeping pills so they can be in bed between noon and 6 pm daily for the artist Chu Yun. (Yes, the sleeping pills are doctor-prescribed.)
I wouldn't bother trying to be one of these women at this point. I hear the museum has been inundated with volunteers. Talk about the perfect job for someone who recently got laid off or is so depressed about the state of affairs in the world that she only enjoys the blissfulness of sleep.
I'll admit, I'm not quite sure what the real meaning of seeing a woman sleeping soundly in real life is all about. The exhibit is called "The Generational: Younger Than Jesus" and will feature an installation by the artist, who "creates a human sculpture by inducing sleep."
What happens when these women move during sleep or worse, have weird dreams that have them talking or moaning in their sleep? Can they ruin the exhibit? According to the details I read, the title of the work changes according to the participant's name, from This is Kate to This is Jenny, and so forth. This isn't a first for this exhibit; it was first seen at Frieze Art Fair in London, where the piece featured a different participant each day. Chu Yun's work has been exhibited throughout China and Europe.
I always wished I could camp out in a museum. I think all of us have dreams of sleeping in a forbidden place like that. Nap next to creations of great artists. But to be on display? I guess there's that other dream of pretending to be a mannequin in a store-front window display. But seriously. Sleep in front of the public like that?
Assuming you're truly sound asleep, you wouldn't be able to see what's going on, or hear what people are saying. And what if you start drooling... or an old flame shows up to see the exhibit.... or a piece of your clothing comes loose (which brings up another question: what are these women wearing to bed?)
Okay, so that's being a little pessimistic. It's a fun bit of news this week, and it probably is a fascinating exhibit. Oh, and did I mention how much they pay? $10 an hour. That's more than what you get working a hard, laborious shift at a fast food joint.
Please, if any of you go see this exhibit, write to me and tell me what you think.
This article on sleep is also available at Dr. Breus's official blog, The Insomnia Blog.