You may have thought you knew what you wanted prior to this post, but you didn’t; unless what you wanted was a museum dedicated to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen hiding from the paparazzi. If you wanted something else – like a new car or world peace – put a pin in those because we now have this. Brooklyn based comedians Viviana Olen and Matt Harkins have created an exhibit to the Ghosts of the Garment District trying not to be visible in the media. Viviana and Matt have museum experience; they opened THNK 1994 Museum in their apartment hallway. THNK 1994 is dedicated to the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan Scandal. When artist Laura Collins (who is brilliant) met with the pair to talk about donating some of her artwork for THNK 1994, the dream of the MKA Museum was born:
A really amazing group of people are making a museum dedicated to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and we would like to hug them. Matt and Viviana, two comedians from NYC, have teamed up with Chicago artist Laura Collins to bring you the “The Olsen Twins Hiding From the Paparazzi” exhibit. Paper magazine notes, the comedy duo has experience in the museum biz as the creators of the THNK1994 (which stands for Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan) museum which they set up in their NYC apartment (so smart!) a while back. In other words, they’re the perfect people to pull off this MKA extravaganza. Who knows, maybe the twins themselves will show up? Viviana told the mag, “I would hope they’d come in disguises.”
Their latest exhibit was inspired by Mary Kate’s wedding to Oliver Sarkozy, following the newspaper reports that the wedding featured “bowls and bowls filled with cigarettes.” Harkins and Olen go on to explain that “the Olsen Twins are true celebrities. Highly unrelatable. They have bowls (and bowls) of cigarettes at their weddings. Very chic.”
If they raise the funds necessary, the exhibit will run for two weeks in April. Even if you can’t donate to the Kickstarter, watch the video because it’s a hoot. In addition to the wall of Olsen hiding behind oversized objects portraits, there will be Kylie Jenner mid–wink artwork, Lisa Vanderpump Holding a Swan and, of course, a recreation of one of MK’s wedding reception tables complete with a bowl of cigarettes.
According to Dazed, Viviana and Matt say that yes, this is funny, but it is real. They explain, “People instantly assume it’s a joke, but it’s not. We’ve spent the last year running tours in our hallway museum and have taken what we promised to do seriously. But we are comedians so we try to make things as fun as we can. Our main initiative with this was to show Laura Collins’ art, and our role as curators is to present it in the most inviting and interesting way possible.”
You know I adore the Twins. I have a secret closet dedicated to the Twins, Anna Wintour and Victoria Beckham – all people who fascinate and terrify me simultaneously. I was going to take the Progeny to see their godfather in London but scrap that – I we would get so much more out of this.
Exciting new interactive installation for the exhibit selfie station! Introducing the Insta-Twin! pic.twitter.com/4OIPubRgJe
— Matt and Viviana (@MattandViviana) March 6, 2016
Photo credit: FameFlynet Photos
It seems like a really funny idea. These novelty museums can seem silly, but sometimes it works. Here, everyone thought that the Museum of broken relationships was a joke, and now it’s a huge hit, so who knows maybe this one becomes a hit too.
So much to do in NYC and I’d go to …..this? I think not.
The Olsen’s were really likeable and cute when they were younger but in their twenties they took on these really aloof personalities. This exhibition sounds funny and giving them a gentle ribbing for their apparent out of touchness is fine by me.
They tried to move out of the spotlight, though. They didn’t want to be actresses anymore, but behind the scenes fashion designers. Besides Victoria Beckham, what other fashion designer gets photographed daily?
I was obsessed with the twins when I was younger. Its not an offensive idea, but I wouldn’t spend money to go see it.
They spent their whole lives in front of cameras you can’t blame them for becoming aloof.
+ 1
How is that art? Seems more like parody than anything.
It is conceptual art– and they are comedians. You must not forget that part. 🙂
This sounds like a fun idea. I always thought it was weird how seriously some people took the bowl of cigarettes thing though—sounds like an inside joke to me and not like “here are ciggies in place of flowers because we find them beautiful.”
I think it’s awesome. I want to meet these curators. We could have a smoke togethrr.
I agree, Miss J. What a great and curious idea. I must admit to a fascination with the bowls of cigarettes.
This makes me kind of want to put random things in bowls when people come over. Bowls of…….anything. Ciggies, strawberries, fountain pens, sequins, Q-tips. A collection of whimsy.
Here’s the part I love:
“Sia-Cycle: As a celebrity you have to be on the cutting edge of fitness even when you refuse to let anyone see your face. We’ll host an all Sia Soul-Cycle class. We are in no way affiliated with modern pop phenom Sia OR Soul Cycle. We also don’t have any way of getting exercise bikes, we WILL, however, get a choreographer to come and teach us all dance moves that look like you’re on a bike. She will also compliment you as if you are on a bike. Basically, if we all agree that we “see” bikes, and “feel” bikes, there will be bikes?”
And then there is the description of the “wedding table.”
“Bowls and bowls of cigarettes, black orchids, and a button that you can press that doesn’t seem to do anything but then 45 seconds later you hear someone scream in the distance.”
That black button is just the right touch. Every wedding should have one!
Don’t forget pasties m dear. Everybody needs those!
Well, that is just a Happening waiting to happen. Is that screamy button real? I wonder how you find one of those. I am so sorry to have left my last job without a button that causes distant screaming. So many jobs truly need this. I would have traded my computer for a screamy button. It’s the most wonderful idea and I’m already planning dozens of uses for it.
Now where are my pasties….
Every home should have a screamy button! I want one now!
I hope the twins will take the exhibit as a humorous thing.
People feel so entitled to the Twins’ lives, due to the fact that they have been celebrities since they were nine months old. But if you think about it from their perspective, they were thrust into something huge without any choice or opinion. By the time they were self aware they were already incredibly famous. Yes they got a huuuuuge payday out of it, but I’m not sure I would take that payday for that life, given the choice.
MaryKate especially has had to go through some difficult personal struggles while the public looks on in fascination, again acting entitled to her life.
I just hope this exhibit is done with delicacy and respect and humor.
That fame and wealth came in handy when she waived off any investigation into Heath Ledger’s death…
This is really dumb. I don’t think people being stalked by paparazzi is funny at all.
Me neither.
Another thing to not care about.
They clearly don’t want any attention. I don’t get why people don’t just leave them alone already? I could understand if they were on social media or selling wedding pics or something but I literally can’t remember the last time I saw either one of them doing an interview. Both seem to want to live private lives — this just feels totally unnecessary?
+1
Seriously. Exact same thing I’m thinking. Leave them alone.
Yes! They don’t court the limelight and actively seem to avoid it. This museum idea just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Okay MK and Ashley have done lots in their lifetime I think they need a break from showbiz and focus on their projects. And if they want so do something new let them they are only human. They are great people and are awesome in so many ways. Good luck ladies you rock 😊!!!