European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 27, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                One of Andy Warhol s famous Campbell s soup can paintings. Raj a  a a a i How the mundane became monumental by Chuck Roberts staff writer you can find George Washington in drag at the pop Art show in Cologne Germany. He s next to John Doe a combination of baby buggy mannequin and Wood with the inscription Quot Riddle Why is John Doe like a piano answer because he is Square upright and grand a old soothe  these two pieces by Edward Kienholz Are among 250 unconventional works loaned to the touring exhibition by Public and private collectors from Europe and the United states. Everyone from Andy Warhol to Michelangelo Pisto Letto that is is represented at the museum Ludwig until april 20. After that the show which began its tour in London moves to its final Stop at the Centro de arte Reina Sofia in Madrid. More than 50,000 people attended the show during its first two weeks in Cologne. What they saw were samples of pop Art that Span More than 30 years and that Drew quizzical looks and amused smiles from Many of the students and Young onlookers who had gone to View the exhibit on a recent weekday morning. Quot it s almost too much a said one observer As she wandered among objects ranging from stuffed chickens buckets and women s slippers to toilet lids. Pop Art began about 35 years ago when artists departed from the predominantly abstract trends of the time. The artists goal was to depict what surrounded people every Day what they ate what they spent their spare time on what they experienced via the Media a fast cars and fast food idols of the screen and politics the Quot fetishes of Money and sex comics and disasters. The phrase pop Art was dreamed up by English Art critic Lawrence Alloway after he saw a work by English artist Richard Hamilton titled just what is it that makes today s Homes so different so appealing the collage showed a bodybuilder in a modern living room holding a giant Tootsie pop which Alloway saw As a name for the new movement that nobody had quite been Able to categorize. To help people better understand pop Art headphones and tape cassettes Are available at the Entrance to the exhibit. Only German language cassettes Are available now but the English version of the taped guide should arrive soon said museum employee Elke Friedrichs. The guide includes general background about pop Art and artists and gives additional information for about 40 of the Art pieces. Visitors have other options they can arrange guided Tours for groups and school classes or they can tag along with one of the Many classes visiting the show. Visitors can join the groups sitting on folding chairs As the group leaders try to explain works of Art such As towards a definitive statement on the coming trends Marilyn Monroe larger than life lives forever on this Canvas by pop artist Andy Warhol. Pop goes the easel Popeye clobbers Bluto in a painting by Roy Lichtenstein. In men s Wear Adonis in fronts by Richard Hamilton in 1962 or Bathtub collage no. 2 by Cincinnati native Tom Wesselmann in 1963. The Bathtub is a combination painting and actual toilet objects such As a Shower curtain toilet paper hanging on a Roll Ca Desene medicated powder Mennen skin bracer and Blanchard jealousy eau de Toilette. Nearby is a similar piece called soft washstand ghost version by Claes Oldenburg. This piece dated 1965, consists of a piece of Canvas in the vague shape of a bathroom sink with four wooden handles and a nozzle. Several Warhol works in the downstairs Section include White car crash 19 times Marilyn Early coloured Liz and 80 two Dollar Bills front and rear. Warhol s boxes exhibit is one of those things that a leave you wondering Quot what makes this Art a boxes is a Bunch of brillo soap pads boxes and Campbell s Tomato juice boxes stacked on top of each other. After exposing yourself to modern Art for a few hours you might want to reorient yourself by walking outside and visiting something easier to grasp a such As the 13th-Century Cathedral nearby. The pop Art show is open 10 . To 8 . Tuesdays through thursdays and 10 . To 6 . Fridays through sundays. It is closed on mondays. Employees recommend going during the weekdays to avoid the heavy crowds. Admission to the exhibit costs 13 Marks about $8 for adults 9 Marks about $5.50 for students and 5 Marks about $3 for school groups. For More information Call the museum at 0221-221-2382. The Cologne tourist office is offering package deals during the exhibition a Liuding hotel rooms City Tours Entrance to the exhibit and other City attractions at reduced rates. For More information about the Kolner pop Bonbon packages Call the tourist office at 0221-221-3345. To schedule group Tours of the exhibition Call 0221-221-4198 or 0221-2213468. All Telephone numbers Are for Calls in Germany if calling from outside the country be sure to add the country code. 12 stripes Magazine february 27, 1992 february 27, 1992 stripes Magazine 13