Mario MerzIgloo, Do We Go Around Houses, or Do Houses Go Around Us? 1977/85

Igloo, Do We Go Around Houses, or Do Houses Go Around Us? is made of sixty-five slate slabs spiralling from the top of a semicircular steel frame, to which they are fastened with G-clamps and putty. Intersecting the frame is another steel structure which supports seventy-four vertical panes of broken glass, secured with putty. At the end of this structure is a light box positioned to shine electric light into the igloo through the glass 'tunnel'. The glass has irregular sharp edges and is dirty, occasionally covered by masking tape and smudged with putty in several places. In accordance with the artist's wishes, the glass must not be cleaned… (read more)