Meow Wolf

Meow Wolf is a large art group with several exhibits across the nation. They are known for their out-of-the-box approach to art and their completely immersive exhibits. These exhibits include House of Eternal Return, Omega Mart, and Convergence Station.

I’ve followed Meow Wolf for several years now, and their approach to art is always something I’ve been inspired by. As mentioned in my post on Emma Sulkowicz I’ve always been drawn to art that attempts to interact with the viewer beyond visually. Especially in today’s day and age where most of the art we consume is digital. Their work being fully immersive and interactive it’s not surprising I find them influential.

They are also reconstructing and challenging the rules of the modern gallery and museum. As well as challenging what it means to be art. Leaning heavily into kitsch, pop culture, and production in an unironic way.

Though overall I am inspired by Meow Wolf’s work, I am particularly drawn to their exhibit Omega Mart, in Area 15 Las Vegas. From the outer layer, it appears to be a grocery store. But the closer you get the more unsure things become. The products are strange parodies. Deodorant named whale songs, Tattooed Chicken meat, Lemons that sprout eyes. Though many of these pieces do not hold deeper meaning individually they do contribute to the exhibit’s overall meanings.

It’s easy to see the influence of Omega Mart on my Consumption series. This idea of using a parody of an everyday product as a form of media was interesting to me. Especially since products are a good 80-90 percent of the media I consume daily. Ads, stickers, foods, drinks, clothes, entertainment. Consumerism and capitalism are such huge parts of our society, they shape our traditions, our social beliefs, and our laws. I wanted to tap into this, to make “Sellable art” or more so art that was attempting to sell itself the same way everyday products do.

I found it an interesting outlet because in some ways it’s familiar to the viewer, enough so that it would draw them in. At the same time though it lacks empathy and humanity. Here I am talking about these social issues in the silhouette of something that contributes to the oppression. Here I am putting the warnings in the fine print, that no one is ever going to read. A real issue, real people’s suffering, shrunk down to an empty thing.