Kanye West, who’s been infiltrating the upper echelons of the art world of late, will be collaborating on an art installation piece with Robert Wilson on July 30 at the annual summer benefit gala at the Watermill Center in the Hamptons.
West, whose last-minute contribution was first announced by the New York Times, will be among many fellow art luminaries participating in the event including ANOHNI, Pussy Riot, and art collective Bruce High Quality Foundation as part of FADA: House of Madness.
The event’s theme is inspired by Le Corbusier’s building, La Maison du Fada, or Nutter’s House, and given the line up for the glamorous evening the resulting performances should be very interesting indeed.
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The 2015 Watermill Center Benefit Party. ©Julian Mommert
“In tribute to the extraordinary philanthropist and Watermill supporter Madame Giancarla Berti,” Robert Wilson, founder/artistic director of the Watermill Center, said in a statement, “I am honored to collaborate with international artists ANOHNI, The Bruce High Quality Foundation and Pussy Riot, alongside our emerging Summer Program artists.”
“ANOHNI is one of the leading vocalists in contemporary music today,” he added. “As guests wander throughout our grounds, they will encounter her music as never before. It will set the tone for the evening.”
The center, which bills itself as an “interdisciplinary laboratory for the arts,” supports young and emerging artists through year-long residency programs was founded in 1992 by Wilson, a multi-disciplinary artist and theatrical innovator.
Watermill is currently expanding its site for the first time in its short history with the addition of a 10,000 square foot residency space, which will consist of a series of barn-like structures. The new space, designed by Roger Ferris, will include space for a library and storage for over 5,000 objects linked to the history of the center.
Watermill Center Summer Benefit 2015. Image: by Lovis Ostenrik
We hope West and Wilson will pull some seriously “fada” things out of the bag for this artwork. West’s love of the art world has been demonstrated in a number of ways from conceiving his first child in front of renaissance paintings, taking part in consensus dividing artistic projects with the likes of Jürgen Teller and Steve McQueen, and recently declaring his Tweets to be contemporary art.
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However out there his work ends up being, the audience may well outshine the participating artists as the event board boasts a sparkling host of names ranging from Marina Abramovic and Nan Goldin, to Lady Gaga and Jenny Holzer.
The 23rd Annual Watermill Center Summer Benefit & Auction will take place at the Watermill Center, New York, on July 30, 2016, 6:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m.Tickets start at $650.