Coffin of Curiosities | Richard Moreno

Richard Moreno (Miami, FL) | October 2021

Museum collection bench, museum glass, museum lights, museum wood as well as 1/2 plywood, museum speakers, Line 6 spider 75 Watt amp head, black enamel paint, variable museum objects.

104" L x 56" W x 24"H

The Coffin of Curiosities was inspired by the artist's body of work. Moreno's practice explores elements of diy culture, community, and mysticism through the lenses of Metal and Punk cultures. A coffin shaped bench was found in the third floor of the museum, and transformed into a musical instrument and cabinet of sorts with installed shelves and speakers. Stairs were built to raise the bench up and allow the audience to climb up and sit on it, as well as pull pieces from the museum collection to fill the shelves and stairs. Knives and paint markers were also provided for the residents and visitors of Elsewhere to deface and carve into the piece making it their own.
In this piece Richard flips the normal process of viewership, allowing the audience to be both performer and artist, creating a space for experimentation, and interaction. Absolving ownership he hopes the piece to have multiple lives and iterations.