A Washington D.C. art exhibit seeking celebrity self-reflection allows visitors to throw mounds of crumbs at an Ivanka Trump lookalike while she vacuums.
New York City based conceptual artist Jennifer Rubell is bringing the "limited engagement participatory performance art piece" to the CulturalDC circuit through February 17. The piece aims to view the "complex" relationship visitors have with the Ivanka lookalike who is dressed in pink high heels, a pink skirt and is seen vacuuming pink carpet. The exhibit aims to "celebrate" President Donald Trump's famous daughter as a "feminine icon" while also forcing visitors to question their own level of complicity in her subservient public role. Visitors to the exhibit have the option to throw bread crumbs on the carpet for the Ivanka-lookalike model to vacuum.
A livestream option is available for online gawkers to see real-life visitors tossing bread crumbs on the floor as the Ivanka Trump doppelganger diligently cleans up their mess.
"Inspired by a figure whose public persona incorporates an almost comically wide range of feminine identities – daughter, wife, mother, sister, model, working woman, blonde – Ivanka Vacuuming is simultaneously a visual celebration of a contemporary feminine icon; a portrait of our own relationship to that figure; and a questioning of our complicity in her role-playing," reads a press release from CulturalDC.
Rubell added in a statement through CulturalDC: "Here is what's complicated: we enjoy throwing the crumbs for Ivanka to vacuum. That is the icky truth at the center of the work. It's funny, it's pleasurable, it makes us feel powerful, and we want to do it more," said the art exhibit's creator, Jennifer Rubell, in a statement.
"We like having the power to elicit a specific and certain response. Also, we know she'll keep vacuuming whether we do it or not, so it's not really our fault, right?" Rubell, who has created performance art pieces in several cities, added.
The exhibit will take place through Sunday, February 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. EST in Cultural DC's former "Flashpoint Gallery" at 916 G Street. Admission to the live performance art event is free to visitors.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Benjamin Fearnow is a reporter based out of Newsweek's New York City offices. He was previously at CBS and Mediaite ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
