A Giant Monumental Shopping List Is Sitting at Central Park South and Fifth Avenue

The new Public Art Fund installation, David Shrigley: MEMORIAL is on view at the Doris C. Freedman Plaza at the southeast corner entrance of Central Park. Here, the artist explores the historical significance of granite public monuments in a comedic tone by honoring the mundane act of making a grocery list in this 17 foot high by 7 feet wide installation. Items range from “mayonnaise” to “tampons” to “cleaning stuff” and “shelf brackets,” carved in an-all caps serif font.

MEMORIAL seemed to be creating quite a bit of interest as we walked by today. Locals packing their own lists, buried deep inside their bags, and tourists carrying their own lists of what to see and where to go, stopped to stare and take photos and selfies. As the Public Art Fund explains, “While Shrigley’s shopping list might appear to posture as a counter monument, through its celebration of a common activity, its anonymity, and absurdity, the sculpture becomes a memorial both to no-one and to everyone—perhaps standing as a simple but poignant ode to humanity.

The artist will also be speaking at The New School, as part of the Fall 2016 Talks Series, “Mining the Minutiae,” which brings David Shrigley together with Heather and Ivan Morison, and Spencer Finch, whose practices also mine the minutiae of collective experiences.

Mr. Shrigley’s work focuses on the public realm and include “Really Good,” a ten-foot bronze sculpture which will be installed this fall in London’s Trafalgar Square; a design for Kingsley, the official mascot for a Scottish Premiership football team (2015); and “How Are You Feeling?,” The High Line’s billboard commission (2012). Spencer Finch also had the longest running public art work on the High Line, and will be unleashing a mini redwood forest in Downtown Brooklyn October 1st.

David Shrigley: MEMORIAL is curated by Emma Enderby and will be on view at The Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Fifth Avenue at 59th Street, through February 12, 2017.

Check out 12 other outdoor art installations not to miss in NYC this month. You can contact the author at AFineLyne.