MOMA Poll
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In 1970s’ the Vietnam War was going on. Haacke looked at the Board of governors of Museum of Modern Art in New York. He tried to show how this particular museum is implicated in one way or another to this political event, through its governors, parties shows and sorts of audience that frequented the museum.
He shows invisible networks that connect obvious politics to art.
In 1970 he set up a ’MOMA Poll’ for the duration of the ‘Information’ exhibition. It comprised of two transparent acrylic ballot boxes, one marked ‘yes’ and the other ‘no’. The question was: ‘Would the fact that Governor Rockefeller has not denounced President Nixon’s Indochina Policy be a reason for you not voting for him in November?’. Nelson Rockefeller’s family was closely identified with the museum and himself had been a president of the museum as well as the governor of New York State. There is nothing in this work to suggest you should vote yes or you should vote no. “At the close of the exhibition the counters of the ballot boxes registered 25.566 votes (68,7%)’yes’ and 11.563 (31,3%) ‘no’. “ (Osborne, 2005) Haacke drew connections between this governor political agenda and the art establishment.