Rotting Piñata (2015)
Solo Installation Art Exhibit
Ground Floor Gallery
Nashville, TN
Aug. 1 - Sept. 3, 2015
Desire’ Hough’s solo installation, Rotting Piñata, is a birthday party that was eagerly planned but never occurred for unspoken reasons, leaving the viewer with underlying notions of death. The piñata was never hit yet is falling apart, cake never cut but not at all appetizing, wrinkly balloons at your feet, and gifts left unopened create a subtly haunting scene. The party stands as a memorial site that is left untouched in mourning.
As described by Nashville Scene's Joe Nolan in an article published in the July 13, 2015 edition to celebrate First Saturday Art Crawl's Ninth Birthday, "Desiré Hough's installation Rotting Piñata is the surprise party that never happened. A rock-hard stale cake, deflated balloons and the eponymous candy-dripping decoration all add up to a celebration of life haunted by a sardonic kind of death."
Did you know? Nashville Scene named Rotting Pinata one of their six favorite exhibits of all time at Ground Floor Gallery!
On the way to the exhibit, visitors were prompted to walk past a memorial site located at the gallery's entryway. The memorial was adorned with well-loved plush toys, a cross, decaying flower bouquets, and lit candles. Interestingly enough, it caught the attention of passersby, too, some of which gave me condolences for the apparent tragedy.
Upon entering the gallery, visitors were greeted and handed a gift bag that included candy, party favors and a printed slip with philosophical commentary about birthdays and death. Next, the piñata came into view.
Rotting Piñata
Mixed Media:
Polyurethane foam, tissue paper, synthetic fur, paint, rope, and candy.
55" L x 20" W x 50" H
The larger-than-life piñata took center stage, hung from the ceiling by a thick rope.
Since the party never occurred, the piñata was never hit, succumbing to time and eventual death.
Beneath it lay pieces of its decomposing flesh and pelt, and candy that fell from inside its corpse.
The gallery space was transformed into a living room staged for a birthday party. Streamers filled the ceiling, and wallpaper lined the walls upon which my framed childhood artwork was displayed to give the impression of a family room prepped for a birthday celebration. Miscellaneous chairs for the guests, a sofa, and board games furthered the notion of a party.
To relay that the party never occurred, the presents were covered in a thick layer of dust, and paired with deflated ballons and unopened refreshments.
old, uncut cake and knife
deflated ballons on sofa
Expired snacks, refreshments, unopened utensils and dinnerware
deflated balloons on guest chairs
The cake was never cut.
Visitors were left to speculate why someone would skip their birthday, ultimately chalking it up to something of misfortune.
Did feelings of mourning prevent the party from taking place?
No, the classic game of hitting a piñata became irresistible to the audience, and the party began as a celebration of life.
Including a bat adorned in colorful string near the rotting pinata inspired a visitor to interact with my installation in ways I never imagined. Once the pinata was struck, the party that was never supposed to take place begun. It's in our nature to seek out joy even in times of distress.
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