Part of my 2021 resolution is to write about a museum every month. This idea originated last May, after I learnt about the International Museum Day. I don’t have any art background whatsoever, so most of the stories/contents are based-off my memories from the museum tours.
January — Legion of Honor
Content:
- Background/Overview — museum history, location, layout
- Dining — food at SFMOMA
- Artworks — dive into few of my favorite art collections
Background/Overview
SFMOMA was founded in the War Memorial Veterans Building near Civic Center under the name “San Francisco Museum of Art” in 1935. As the first museum of the West Coast devoted to modern and contemporary art, the word “modern” was added to its name and became the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 1975. In 1995, SFMOMA moved to its current location on 3rd St., next to the Yerba Buena Gardens in SoMa district. The museum underwent a 3yr-long-expansion project, and reopened in 2016 as one of the largest modern and contemporary art museum in the world.
I’ve never seen the old SFMOMA, though the newly expanded SFMOMA is a 7-story-tall museum with lots public spaces. 1st floor is solely public space; the ticket booth is on the 2nd floor; 3rd floor is primarily reserved for the Pritzker Center for Photography; The Doris and Donald Fisher Collection Galleries span over 4th, 5th, & 6th floor; 7th floor has one of the special exhibition galleries.
In addition to the regular exhibitions and sculpture gardens, there are also a living wall on the 3rd floor terrace — the largest vertical garden in the US; a 1-star Michelin restaurant In Situ; and a skybridge under the dome on 5th floor.
You can see an interactive floor plan of SFMOMA here.
As one of the first museums to recognize photography as a fine art, SFMOMA has the largest space permanently dedicated to photography in the US. Aside from its photography department, there are 7 other curatorial areas, namely: Architecture + Design, Contemporary Art, Media Arts, Painting + Sculpture, Film, New Work, and Public Knowledge.
Dining
In Situ
I only dined here once in 2016, shortly after SFMOMA reopened. Frankly, after all these years, I have no memory of the food, though I do vaguely recall the artsy utensils and plating — very suitable for the MOMA vibe!
According to the Michelin guide, the concise menu rotates seasonally among over 100 dishes from top chefs around the world.
Cafe 5
Located on the 5th floor, it is one of my favorite places of SFMOMA! Sunbathing through the French Window, enjoying the sculptures in the terrace, indulging in the delicious desserts, I simply love to recharge here in the early afternoon. Amongst the sculptures in the garden is a famous LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana.
Sightglass Coffee
Located on the 3rd floor, next to the Pritzker Center for Photography. Unfortunately as someone who doesn’t drink coffee, I seldomly visit this coffee bar, due to its limited dessert options.
Artworks
As a member of SFMOMA in 2019, I frequently visited SFMOMA, mainly for its various exhibitions. Few memorable ones includes:
- Art and China after 1989: definitely was an eye-opening experience for me. I was shocked by many of the artworks presented, while amused by certain western curation.
- Louis Stettner, Brassaï, & Johannes Brus: 3 different photography exhibitions at the same time & place. Not much memory for Brus’ work, though I absolutely loved the lighting and composition of Stettner’s work & was touched by the emotions conveyed in Brassaï’s work. Really capturing the moment.
- Vija Celmins: absolutely mind-blowing! I can’t believe she drew all these photographic images, without an eraser as well!!
- Suzanne Lacy — We Are Here: heartbreaking. Suzanne’s work on feminism, violence against women, racism, & labour rights.
- Andy Warhol — From A to B and Back Again: Campbell soups, poppies, pop art, collages… A retrospect of Andy’s work and his influences
Femme au chapeau by Henri Matisse
The history between SFMOMA & Henri Matisse dates back to an exhibition in 1936 — the year after the museum’s birth. It was also the first Henri Matisse exhibition of the West Coast, and the foundation of the museum’s Fauvism collection.
The model of this masterpiece is Madame Matisse — Henri Matisse’s wife. Though it is one of the best known Fauvism art today, it caused a huge commotion when it first showcased at the Salon in the early 1900s. Spectators were shocked with the bold use of colors, which did not correspond to the observed reality. It is said Madame Matisse actually wore all black when posed for this painting.
I was told the word “Fauvism” came from the French word “fauve”, which means “beast”, a word used by one of the commentators at the Salon.
The Nest by Louise Bourgeois
A set of spiders scattered around on the 5th floor, next to the skybridge, underneath the dome. I used to stand beneath the larger spiders, wondering why so many spiders of various shapes? Later I learnt from the curated audio, that this sculpture set symbolizes maternity and protection — where the larger spiders protects the smaller ones from the outside world.
Fountain by Marcel Duchamp
A controversial piece of artwork that kicked-off the debate of “what is art” in early 1900s.
Marcel Duchamp purchased a urinal, signed it with “R. Mutt”, and submitted it for the Society of Independent Artists exhibition in 1917. Duchamp was already a well-established artist at the time, and a board member of the Society of Independent Artists. Though this artwork was accepted by the Society, it was not displayed at the exhibition. Duchamp later resigned from the board in response to this.
Duchamp later explained the name “R. Mutt” came from “Mott Works”, a sanitary equipment manufacturer, and “Mutt and Jeff” a cartoon strip. During my tour, the guide also gave the idea of mutt dog, hinting the name “R. Mutt” is fake/manmade.
Les valeurs personnelles by René Magritte
SFMOMA purchased this signature painting of René Magritte, an iconic Surrealism artist, in 1995. Displayed in the public space of the 2nd floor, this is actually one of the rare collections of SFMOMA that one could appreciate without an admission ticket.
Though this painting only consists of ordinary everyday objects, by playing with different perspectives, René created this mysterious room of belonging.
My favorite is the sky wallpaper & the mirror reflection of the wardrobe’s mirror. The floor, ceiling, folds, and reflected window imply a room, except the blue sky depicts otherwise. Also with this infinitely bounded wallpaper, I often feel like part of this painting, and wonder if I were indoor or out.
Strut by Marilyn Minter
What a paradoxical painting! A diamond-decorated heeled mule, it’s brand “Dior” is visibly shown on the shank. Yet the foot that wears this shoe is awfully dirty. A glamorous outfit vs. a flawed body.