The hexagonal floor piece, titled Pindakaasvloer (Peanut Butter Floor), was first exhibited in 1969 — Schippers had conceived it as early as 1962.
Schippers, who died in June at age 83, left detailed instructions for the installation. According to these, 15.6 kilograms of smooth peanut butter per square meter should be applied “as smoothly and monotonously as possible.” The work must not be walked on or viewed “with any educational intent.” Sandra Kisters, interim director of the museum, said: “The peanut butter floor still raises questions like: Is this art? Am I allowed to like it? That very bewilderment is what makes the piece so special.”
Schippers was a defining figure in the Dutch cultural scene. In the 1960s, he founded the A-dynamic group, which protested commercialization and boredom through actions such as shaving cacti or filling galleries with broken glass. Later, he became widely known as the voice of Ernie, Kermit, and Count von Count in the Dutch version of Sesame Street. The exhibition runs until September 6; the museum restaurant will serve peanut butter sandwiches during this period.
Source: www.theguardian.com
