The article discusses the "white cube" model of art gallery spaces that has been used since the modern era. It provides a sacred space that induces both cultural and economic value for the artworks exhibited inside by demarcating the internal space from the external. However, the white cube structure has problems with corners and ceilings interrupting the perfect white walls. Installation artists like Brian O'Doherty challenge this model by creating virtual spaces within galleries and using the space as the content rather than just the context. This reinterprets the relationship between inside and outside spaces and suggests new ways the conventional white cube could be redefined.

1. PARAPRHASING
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: ‘Positively White Cube Revisited’ by Simon Sheikh
PUBLISHED IN: e-flux journal # 3
DATE OF PUBLICATION: February 2009
The article speaks of the white cube model that serves as the gallery space for exhibiting artworks
from the modern era.
The writertellshowthe white cube asan exhibitionspace is complex in its context but simple in its
approach.
It providesasacredspace forthe artworkexhibitedinside it by demarcating the external space and
the internal space. He compares the white cube to an ancient tomb-both offering immortality and
timelessness to hat is inside. Not only does the gallery space induces a cultural value into the
artworks, but also induces economic value into them by attracting and initiating possible buyers.
Thus apart from being a space for viewing, the white cube also serves as a shop.
The writerfurtherdiscussesaboutthe problemsregardingthe white cube structure-how the corners
and the ceilings interrupt the perfect white walls.
The dichotomy between the outside and the inside has resulted in installation art-the juncture
betweenartpractise concerningagalleryspace andcontemporaryartpractise that re-interprets the
external and internal space. The installations of Brian O’Doherty defy the white cube model by
creating virtual spaces within the gallery. Thus he uses the gallery as the content rather than as a
context.
Thus the text supported by O’Doherty’s installations give us an idea as to how the conventional
white cube can be redefined.
Chandni Guha Roy
M.V.A. Part 1
Art History and Aesthetics
27.07.2016