MARCEL'S MASTERPIECE

Marcel Duchamp’s use of a urinal to challenge assumptions about art in 1917 New York has inherent kid appeal—and Mack exploits the possibilities.

The artist is first glimpsed holding a pen and standing next to Mona Lisa, who sports an inky mustache and goatee. Readers then see a star pattern shaved into Duchamp’s hair—examples of how a bizarre sensibility permeated his art. The book is primarily concerned, however, with the furor caused when Duchamp purchased the toilet from a sanitation company (“Come to Dada,” he croons affectionately) and submitted it to the “fancy art show.” Collages employ acrylics, watercolors, digital ink, and materials with interesting textures. The narrative is set on strips of colored paper, while the dialogue is presented in capital letters in different colors and fonts; some appear pasted on. These techniques are characteristic of the Dada art movement, contextualized in a more straightforward (but still engaging) addendum. The design is inspired. Potty humor and wordplay abound: “It says here there’s a toilet in an art show and everyone will be going.” Mack takes some liberties with the truth; the exhibition’s organizers actually excluded the piece from the show (it appeared in the catalog), whereas Mack has visitors reacting to it. This decision does focus attention on actual responses (people were amused or aghast at the concept) and on the questions Duchamp provoked about the nature of art. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A funny, clever consideration of an iconic object.