Shapolsky et al. Manhattan Real Estate
Holdings, a Real-Time System, as of May 1, 1971
142 photographs of New York apartment buildings, 2 maps of New
York's Lower East Side and Harlem with properties marked, 6 charts outlining business
relations within the real estate group.
Edition of 2. Collection Musee National d'Art Moderne, Centre
Georges Pompidou, Paris.
This is the infamous work that was supposed to be part of Haacke's
solo exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York that was abruptly cancelled six weeks
before it was due to open. The curator, Edward Fry was fired and a series of protests
organized by the art community was staged at the museum.
It was speculated that Shapolsky's friends on the Guggenheim's board
of trustees were responsible for the cancellation although the allegation was never
proved. The piece describes the shady dealings of his real estate firm between 1951 and
1971.
Haacke also executed a new poster project for this Documenta using
quotes from corporate sponsors such as "We are not patrons. We want something for the
money we spend. And we are getting it." "Whoever pays, controls."
Original Text Location: http://www.dialnsa.edu/iat97/Documenta/haacke.html
