Mike Kelley


For Skulptur Projekte Münster 07 I have proposed to install a 'petting zoo' in the courtyard of a group of unused multi-story buildings near the Münster train station. The zoo will consist of a small group of domesticated farm animals, including sheep, goats, cows and donkeys, housed together in a circular building painted in the manner of rural American barns. This building will be surrounded by a corral so that the animals may roam and graze in the open air and be available for children to visit and interact with The animals were chosen specifically because they are all naturally attracted to salt, and the will be provided with a life sized salt lick carved in the likeness of Lot's wife. This stature, carved by sculptors at the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine near Krakow, Poland, will be situated at the center point of the circular building's interior. Potentially, the animal's licking activity will affect the form of the statue over time. The story of Lot is found in the biblical Old Testament book of Genesis. Lot is a virtuous citizen of the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah which God intends to destroy. He is warned to take his family and leave the region but not to look back at the destruction. However, Lot's wife disobeys God, looks back, and is turned into a pillar of salt. The statue in the petting zoo is patterned after a representation of Lot's wife as a pillar of salt found in an illustrated book of Bible stories for children from my own youth.

The zoo will function as a traditional diversion for children. A keeper will be on site to tend to the animals' needs and a concession stand will offer snacks and drinks for visitors. The Lot's wife salt lick is intended as an amusing detail within the park, though the alteration of the statue by the licking of the animals is a sculptural process and could be understood as the point of the project. The 'darker' side of the work that makes reference to the sinfulness of Sodom and Gomorrah (and by extension, to local notions of morality in Münster) is completely hidden. For Skulptur Projekte Münster 07 I have proposed to install a 'petting zoo' in the courtyard of a group of unused multi-story buildings near the Münster train station. The zoo will consist of a small group of domesticated farm animals, including sheep, goats, cows and donkeys, housed together in a circular building painted in the manner of rural American barns. This building will be surrounded by a corral so that the animals may roam and graze in the open air and be available for children to visit and interact with The animals were chosen specifically because they are all naturally attracted to salt, and the will be provided with a life sized salt lick carved in the likeness of Lot's wife. This stature, carved by sculptors at the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine near Krakow, Poland, will be situated at the center point of the circular building's interior. Potentially, the animal's licking activity will affect the form of the statue over time. The story of Lot is found in the biblical Old Testament book of Genesis. Lot is a virtuous citizen of the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah which God intends to destroy. He is warned to take his family and leave the region but not to look back at the destruction. However, Lot's wife disobeys God, looks back, and is turned into a pillar of salt. The statue in the petting zoo is patterned after a representation of Lot's wife as a pillar of salt found in an illustrated book of Bible stories for children from my own youth.

The zoo will function as a traditional diversion for children. A keeper will be on site to tend to the animals' needs and a concession stand will offer snacks and drinks for visitors. The Lot's wife salt lick is intended as an amusing detail within the park, though the alteration of the statue by the licking of the animals is a sculptural process and could be understood as the point of the project. The 'darker' side of the work that makes reference to the sinfulness of Sodom and Gomorrah (and by extension, to local notions of morality in Münster) is completely hidden.