In a radical departure from the usual museum protocol, Rudolf Stingel’s latest work started off as a blank canvas. Literally. The foil walls of his work were available for visitors to make their own contribution, in any way they wanted. By using keys, coins or even fingers the foil can be punctured, ripped or torn in any way the visitor wants. Pens, pencils and crayons can be used to draw or write images or messages. Lit by a large cut glass chandelier (representing two extremes of craftsmanship, fragility and ugly beauty), the untouched areas of foil glint invitingly.

When the installation arrived in New York, only the top half of the display had been altered from its virgin state. This had been ‘designed’ by the people of Chicago where the piece was first shown. There was a riot of sculpture, graffiti and musings, and the New York audience was invited to respond on the lower half. The results literally speak for themselves. An interesting footnote to this is that when the installation is removed, it will be a Stingel original, without the artist having ever lifted a finger. Is this a very clever way of creating innovative art, or is it sheer bone idleness? Have your say here.