Closed

Artist Jonathan Monk designed a neon sign with the word Closed for the facade of the Museum Schloss Morsbroich. At first, it seems very practical: it lights up when the museum is closed and turns off when it is open. However, this means that anyone who wants to see Monk’s work in action has to come outside of opening hours, which is otherwise inconvenient for a museum visit.
With this and similarly subtle works, the Berlin-based artist tries to encourage the viewer to reflect on the mechanisms of the art world. His work reflects the artistic traditions of minimalism and conceptual art, while making reference to artists from this generation. For example, the neon word “closed,” which is commonly found in shops, is also a reference the neon works of American artist Joseph Kosuth, who likewise used this method to visualize tautologies.

Further information about the museum: www.museum-morsbroich.de