ASSHOLE:
Paradigms of consumption traced through its logical end

For the second installment of the Cringe exhibition at DEAN PROJECT, Brina Thurston challenges the practice of exchanging money for access to contemporary art institutions. Upon entering the gallery, viewers are faced with the ubiquitous threshold of a museum and the looming ticket desk. Replicated from establishments such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and PS1/MoMA. Thurston asks viewers to pay suggested donations for the experience of the gallery show. In exchange for their donation, audience members will receive a DEAN PROJECT entrance sticker, which must be worn at all times when in the space and which grants viewers access to Thurston’s video installations. Colon Karaoke, a 7-minute karaoke video made from Thurston’s documented colonoscopy, as an actual Karaoke experience for viewer participation. Audience members are also invited to experience the multi-projection room as the logical end to the exhibition ASSHOLE.