Emotions.

There is not much going on in the garden these days. That is why I will tell you about the exhibition of Jordan Wolfson at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam I visited last week. It moved me a lot, so I have to get it off my chest ....

As I arrive at the Stedelijk climbing up the stairs I hear a horrible noise. I walk into the gallery with some anxiety. I see a big doll on chains hanging from a frame. These chains are connected to a mechanism, which can move the doll around. To my astonishment the doll is first lifted up by the chains and then, with a lot of noise, brutally thrown to the ground. Over and over again. The chains lash the doll while it is tossed around.

I wonder, "Can someone please do something nice with this doll?" I find it too horrible to watch and walk away from it.

I continue my visit to the museum and get into the next gallery. A long white bench is placed over the full width of the room. I sit down on the bench and wonder why does this doll touch me so much. Why do I look upon the doll as a human being? After all it is only made of plastic.

Looking up again, on the wall next to the bench I see a notice. It says: “Shoes are not allowed in the next gallery. Please take out your shoes and place them underneath the bench. Thank you for your cooperation.”

I hesitate and return on the bench. I simply do not want to enter the next room on my socks. I look under the bench. No shoes there. Ugh, hardly 15 minutes in the museum and I already feel so much conflict within myself.

I return to the gallery with the doll. The doll is now being drawn in varying poses by the chains. The doll’s eyes blink and look at me quizzically. Meanwhile, I think about my shoe dilemma. What a “bitch” I am, I want to go inside but I do not.

As the doll has to undergo his scourging again and the chains fall on it with a deafening noise, I walk away. I could cry.

I make up my mind. I walk to the other room, sit on the bench, take off my shoes and place them underneath the bench. Next I open the white door ......

The exhibition runs until April 23, 2017 (stedelijk)