Exhibitions > Illuminus 2015

Ovation: Liz Nofziger and Heather Kaprow. Photo by Aram Boghasian
Ovation: Liz Nofziger and Heather Kaprow
2015

The idea came out of an experience Kapplow had while traveling with a musician friend on a tour where many nights ended with this kind of enthusiastic audience response. She realized that there is no equivalent experience for people who are not performers, but felt strongly that the warmth and pleasure of being very lovingly cheered for is something that everyone should have the opportunity to experience. Since then she has been excerpting and listening to the crowd cheering portions of live music albums and imagining ways to reproduce this in an immersive way in an art context without it coming across as jeering or ironic. Her collaborator Nofziger was invited to adapt the piece for an outdoor public space.

The placement at the iconic location of Fenway Park adds a new and exciting dimension to the piece. The fact that visitors are invited to actually step onto the field is already one that creates the experience of feeling “special.” Add to that the soundtrack of adoration and the bath of glowing warm lights and your personal ovation sensation is complete. According to the artists “Ovation” is like being awash in a giant wave of love. It wasn't love originally intended for you, but we have managed to capture it and are giving it to you as a gift.”