Guggenheim Museum

"Oh, this is a happy day; this will have been another happy day!" —Winnie, "Happy Days" by Samuel Beckett Winnie, the central character in Beckett's 1961 play "Happy Days," is trapped up to her waist within an earthen mound. She continues to attempt her daily routines, such as brushing her teeth and reviewing the contents of her bag, while speaking with her husband who is nearby. By the second act, she is buried up to her neck within the mound yet continues to repeat, “Oh, this is a happy day.” This sense of entrapment and hope is echoed in Michalakakos' work. Like Beckett’s couple, these two 12-foot mounds of pinkish-purple polyester fiber remain close yet never touch, leaving us with questions about their relationship. This work is on view in #ByWayOfGuggenheim . 📷: @belraymen __ 🗻: Maro Michalakakos, "Oh! Happy Days," 2012. #MaroMichalakakou