Taylor Mac changed how I think about art. 

The reasons are legion, none more so than Mac’s repeated refrain urging the audience not to cling to one consistent response to the same piece of art. Interpreting this logic to its extreme endpoint, Mac is basically saying that even if you find yourself absolutely loving a show, it’s ok — maybe even advisable —  to switch up how you’re feeling at some point. 

As a proud Taylor apostle, I’ve applied this sentiment to my lifelong relationship with all art. For example:

In my formative years, Tony Kushner’s Lasagna Theory was a go-to. An armchair summary: The Ogugua Kush likened the creation of art to building a lasagna. Pack it with as many complimentary-tasting ingredients as possible, as long as the volume maintains the sturdy structure of a lasagna, because shape can affect the scrumptiousness of the same recipe.

But nowadays, I gravitate towards art that topples the lasagna. I want the ingredients to be a total mess — all over the plate, the table, the floor, the ceiling, my shirt, my face, etc. Instead of the art imparting its own clear form, allow us to reverse engineer the recipe by reassembling the ingredients into our own conception of the form.