Closed Gallery 1969

Robert Barry made this artwork, 'Closed Gallery', by using language itself as a medium. Imagine the quiet act of typing those words: "During the exhibition the gallery will be closed." It's almost as if the artwork is undoing itself—a conceptual disappearing act. I wonder what Barry was thinking? Was he making a commentary on the art world, or questioning the very nature of display? I empathize with the artist's desire to subvert expectations. It reminds me of the silent gestures in the work of John Cage. This piece makes me think about the performative aspect of art, and how context changes everything. By denying access, the artwork becomes an event, charged with absence. Like a riddle, it invites us to ponder what art is, and where we expect to find it.