'PATAPHYSICS: TOO COOL Fresh Windows

The world of art is one where a playful and imaginative spirit thrives, where puns and wordplay are elevated to the level of artistic expression. This is perhaps most evident in the works of Marcel Duchamp and René Magritte, two artists who were deeply influenced by pataphysics, and the seek to explore the underlying nature of reality through absurdity and paradox.

Duchamp's "Fresh Widow" is a prime example of his interest in puns and his fascination with sight and perception. The work is a small version of a French window that has been constructed in accordance with Duchamp's instructions. However, the windowpanes are covered in opaque black leather, which Duchamp insisted “be shined everyday like shoes”; thwarting the viewer's expectations of a view through the window. This play on sight and perception is central to Duchamp's work and is reflective of his interest in exploring the boundaries between reality and illusion. Through a simple change of a few letters, Duchamp transforms the French window into the "Fresh Widow," a reference to the recent abundance of widows from World War I, and it reflects Duchamp's interest in wordplay and puns. This interest is also evident in the inscription at the base of the work, which reads "COPYRIGHT ROSE SELAVY 1920." This is the first work signed by Duchamp's female alter ego, Rrose Sélavy, a name derived from the French saying "Éros c'est la Vie," which means "the sex drive is life."

Windows also had a significant place in Duchamp's work. He stated that "I used the idea of the window to take a point of departure, as…I used a brush, or I used a form, a specific form of expression… I could have made 20 windows with a different idea in each one….”

Similarly, Magritte's serie of windows paintings explore themes of sight and perception in their own unique way. The artist was interested in challenging our understanding of reality and encouraging us to question what we see.

It is in this spirit of pataphysical wordplay and imaginative expression that "TOO COOL FRESH WINDOWS" can be seen as a continuation of Duchamp and Magritte's artistic legacy. By combining the playful pun of "Fresh Widow" with the surreal imagery of Magritte's windows we invite you to question our understanding of reality and to embrace the absurd. As pataphysicians, we are drawn to works that challenge our perceptions and question the nature of reality.

The broken windows can be seen as a metaphor for shattered perceptions, while the windows covered in blood can be interpreted as a symbol of violence and destruction. These elements provide a darker and more intense interpretation of the relationship between reality and illusion and challenge the viewer to consider the meaning and significance of the works. 

Iglesia del Surf del Cristo Risueño de la Costa LTD. MMXXIII ©