From Oskar Schlemmer To Laurie Anderson

I’m always fascinated by the references that appear across various art forms—music, cinema, literature, visual arts, and design. These allusions create a delightful sense of discovery, connection, and even complicity. While some may dismiss them as mere imitation, I see them as a powerful way to celebrate culture as a shared, collective endeavor.

In this particular case, I assume Laurie Anderson was familiar with the work of Oskar Schlemmer. I recognized the reference from a catalogue titled 50 Years of Bauhaus.

Aside from the music in United States I–IV by Laurie Anderson, my only visual access to the performance has been through black-and-white photographs—which, interestingly, ties in with the theme of appropriation. This seems especially appropriate given that Lux Feininger’s photograph of Schlemmer’s Light Play is also a black-and-white gelatin silver print.