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Through the Janitor Closet – An Unbelievable Installation

10.18.12 | By
Through the Janitor Closet – An Unbelievable Installation

The Marlborough Gallery, an expansive first floor space in the stand-out Chelsea Arts Tower on 25th Street in NYC, is easy to find. However, the most incredible exhibition on view today is easily overlooked by those too timid to explore a suspicious open-doored janitor closet.

Walk into the “closet,” through the “bathroom” (both installed only for this exhibition) and enter a multi-room wonderland by artist duo Johan Freeman & Justin Lowe — what the press release calls “a bizzaro New York City” and “a banal method of time travel.”

Holes smashed in walls guide your path through about a 10 distinct rooms that include a fantastical electrical room encrusted in some sort of alien white fungus, a creepy plastic surgery office, and an old school wood-paneled library. When you do finally exit the exhibition, it feels like waking up from a dream with direct sun in your eyes. You’ll feel an urge to go back through again and I highly recommend it. You’ll notice something you were too overwhelmed to see the first time – nearly every object in every room has been bizarrely altered: Book covers have been retitled, cleaning supplies relabeled, and cakes custom frosted. If you’re in or around New York, don’t miss this one.

What: Stray Line Grey by Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe
Where: Marlborough Chelsea Gallery, 545 West 24th St, New York, NY
When: September 13 – October 27, 2012

All images courtesy of Jonah Freeman and Justine Lowe and Marlborough Gallery.

David Behringer visits over 200 galleries every month to uncover and share the most exciting contemporary art in New York today. Subscribe to his exclusive weekly newsletter at www.thetwopercent.com and learn about his private gallery tours. And be sure to check out his YouTube.