The Un-Private Collection: Jeff Koons and John Waters

The Broad presents artist Jeff Koons in conversation with filmmaker John Waters at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.
An enlightening, irreverent, unforgettable evening with two icons of pop and visual culture. Writer and filmmaker John Waters leads artist Jeff Koons in a conversation about the inspiration and ideas behind his unique works-many of which are in The Broad's collection-against the backdrop of Broadway's opulently glamorous Orpheum Theatre.

[@nicolareddwoodd4681]

I can so totally identify with what they are talking about, that they want to depict things that their parents may have looked down on. Just so that they liberated themselves from this bondage of taste policing. My parents are also very tied down to what their particular society accepts. For example garden dwarfs, everybody hated them in Germany except for those who had those little garden houses for weekends. When I saw Jeff Koons making garden dwarfs in large I felt this feeling of liberation immediately, and it brought along a wondrous beauty. I function the very same way with my own art. It is so liberating and fun. Helge Schneider and Jonathan Meese are thinking like that as well. Jonathan Meese was speaking in front of a large audience saying that one has to walk through the valley of ridiculousness in order to move forward. I could very much relate to that. Its the people who take themselves way too seriously like Georg Baselitz for example, who are not free minds. Free yourselves people.

[@kidlitfanful]

It's fascinating that they come at their Bad Taste as Art from different angles. Waters uses words like "rejection" and "rebellion" often, and likes getting bad reviews and being seen as a threat, Koons talks about "acceptance," "optimism" and "celebration," and seems almost surprised that people can find his work off-putting

[@gemimaobrien]

Props to John Waters for mentioning a woman Jane Bowles as an influence in culture. I thought this would be a conversation between the two but it was John Waters interviewing Koon who , despite making some interesting points, is really quite self-important and dull.

[@neonpitchforks]

Someone’s full of their self . The other is real.

[@genuineletter]

on point. he is jeff bearable because of waters

[@1nterpretThis]

Koons basically has no idea what he's talking about. He's trying to paint an image of himself and it's just not working. This is painful.

[@ryanhebert6657]

Thank you for uploading!

[@ClarenceFisher]

31:15 "Get your lard ass off those things, and your BULLSHIT spirituality" (LOL) LOVED IT!!!!

[@veryeyeofnight]

“I feel kind of a sexual stimulation.” --“I'm liberal.” 😂

[@srbobass141]

It's funny. Koons represents what waters laughing at in his great movies. Waters is A real artist. he made the path... He s got something to say. Something to show. Koons is a clown. so Bourgeois so boring. So useless. It is such a blessing to have j. Waters.

[@rabbait1308]

John Waters isn't laughing at anyone. The man himself has said everything in his movies he makes fun of he loves.

[@castoputa]

Oh no the interview should have been done from the other direction, Koons feels stiff and seems insincere, maybe it’s nerves.

[@1nterpretThis]

It's because he's a fraud.

[@BundrenDarl]

Koons is an android

[@DungeonStudio]

I can't get over how only in L.A. can a simple word suddenly be pronounced differently. Rodeo suddenly becomes "Row-DAY'o" and Broad suddenly becomes "Br-OWE-d". The rodeo broad shops on Rodeo Dr. buying all she can on The Broad before she travels abroad. I'm not sure if that's clever, or just stupid? Either way, it's Los Angeles.

[@gruweldaad]

I'll make it even stupider for you. There's a Rodeo Drive, pronounced like that, and a Rodeo Road in a different part of West LA pronounced normally. Although much of Rodeo Road was turned into Barack Obama Boulevard.

[@DungeonStudio]

That's hilarious! In Toronto, we got the oxymoronic 'Avenue Road', which is actually a 'highway'. We just need a 'Road Ave.' now. LOL

[@broken1394]

Koon is a bore.

[@ITcanB]

I guess when you're getting the big bucks you have to back it up with some hushed toned bullshit, honestly could anyone be any more pompous ,evasive and indulgent about some readymade's.

[@manuelkong10]

oh for living hell, this pop psychology in this crap

[@GlitzyMcQueen]

OMG he's hella boring!