"an arch gesamtkunswerk dedicated to the conceit of a museum of homelessness"

December 15, 2005 2:24 PM

The Homeless Museum.
posted by scody (16 comments total)

Inspired by HoMu trustee and treasurer Robobum III, this scientific and artistic project promises to revolutionize homelessness in America through the creation of a new homeless robot.

The homeless robot is a highly dexterous, anthropomorphic robot. It can supplement or even take over some of the tasks that a homeless individual currently performs on the streets, from panhandling to giving directions. It is tele-operated, which means that you have a homeless person who’s given equipment that essentially allows him to step into the body of the homeless robot. The homeless robot looks and thinks like a homeless person.

In the first phase of the Homeless-Robot Project, HoMu envisions a homeless-robot team of 12 homeless robots streetwalking in New York City.
posted by scody at 2:25 PM on December 15, 2005

Contrasting the desolate state of homelessness with the glamorous world of golf, the HoMu Simulator invites viewers to practice their putting and, if unsuccessful, endure simulated loss, isolation, and humiliation.

[this is genius]
posted by matteo at 2:47 PM on December 15, 2005

Someone should give that museum a home.

[i love this]
posted by Eideteker at 3:07 PM on December 15, 2005

matteo beat me to it.

wonderful. thanks.
posted by mrgrimm at 3:46 PM on December 15, 2005

Director’s Cut. The cigarette that looks and feels just like a real cigarette. Filled with a unique blend of body and facial hair provided by the director of the Homeless Museum. Pack of 10 cigarettes.
--U.S. $99.99

ew.
posted by carsonb at 4:39 PM on December 15, 2005

Speaking as someone who has actually spent quite some time homeless: what the fuck? I just don't get it.
posted by cmonkey at 4:42 PM on December 15, 2005

If there was one real homeless person represented, I might have some kind of nice comment. Instead, all I see is some artist (no comment as to talent) who takes all the worst stereotypes of artists and homeless persons, wraps them up in un-thought out rhetoric and is waiting for the applause sign to light up.
posted by lampshade at 4:46 PM on December 15, 2005

If there was one real homeless person represented, I might have some kind of nice comment.

Agreed. After seeing the cardboard toilet, I decided that a better title would be the Twat Museum.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:53 PM on December 15, 2005

I love this, it's great. I think if you are looking for the museum to accurately reflect the real nature of homelessness, you're sort of missing the point.
posted by piers at 5:31 PM on December 15, 2005

Proceeds will go to the Maidstone Club in East Hampton, Long Island.

The Maidstone Club was originally incorporated in 1891 for the "mutual benefit, social intercourse, and recreation" of its members. In a newsletter honoring the Maidstone's centennial, the Club's president, Frederick A. Terry, Jr., offered a description that holds true to this day: "The world is rife with discord and a recession has gripped our nation. But the tiny corner of the globe that is the Maidstone Club is blessed. Our membership is full (. . .) and our golf courses are in superlative condition."*

Well, I'm willing to say I'm 'challenged' by this. Which means I'd like someone to explain it to me in such a way that I can feel there is some social justice involved. Until then, it's just more art to amuse the rich.
posted by Miko at 6:20 PM on December 15, 2005

This would be funny, if it was clever.

As far as real art about homelessness is concerned, the Identity Kit project is simpler, better, more moving and more powerful than anything I've seen to date.
posted by fandango_matt at 6:39 PM on December 15, 2005

Why is he wearing a stick-on beard and moustache? And what's with his eyes? It looks like two halves of different faces have been put together.
posted by tellurian at 7:13 PM on December 15, 2005

I think if you are looking for the museum to accurately reflect the real nature of homelessness, you're sort of missing the point.

So...what is the point?

I don't mean that in a snarky way; I'm honestly baffled.
posted by cmonkey at 11:33 PM on December 15, 2005

If there was one real homeless person represented, I might have some kind of nice comment.

I believe the point is to satirize artists (and intellectuals) as being divorced from, wholly ignorant of, and utterly ineffectual at dealing with the problems they hope to help solve. The representations of the homeless are intended to be absurd, as far as I can tell.

I think.
posted by dsword at 11:50 PM on December 15, 2005

Yep, I'm with dsword - it's not a commentary on homelessness, but on "socially relevant" art.
posted by piers at 9:36 AM on December 16, 2005

The representations of the homeless are intended to be absurd, as far as I can tell.

Well, given the mention of "revolutionizing homelessness through the creation of a new homeless robot," I had thought the absurdity might have been wildly obvious. :)
posted by scody at 5:25 PM on December 16, 2005