By Nidhi Kinhal
Broad City star Abbi Jacobson, who grew up in a family of artists and spent her 20s at the Museum of Modern Art, New York City, is bringing her Abbi character on the show to life. (Okay, maybe it was vice-versa). She mixes two mediums through a new art podcast, called ‘A Piece of Work’.
In an attempt to reconnect with contemporary art and perhaps make that experience memorable, Jacobson has roped in friends such as fellow comedian Hannibal Buress, musician Questlove, TV personality RuPaul and writer-editor Tavi Gevinson for the podcast. It also features curators, experts (“cuz, you know, they have good ideas too”), and visitors at MoMA talking about historical significance and their responses to artworks. Like Jacobson says in her first episode in the ten-part series, “Museums and art are always better with friends. Friends you can talk to, bounce ideas off of, laugh with, and even sometimes have transcendental art experiences with.”
What’s best about the podcast is that while it tries to discover new ways of looking at an artwork, figuring out the artist’s intent, it’s not wishy-washy. The self-confessed basic premise is, “to ask: what the heck is that?” and to that effect, ‘A Piece of Work’ feels comfortable. It doesn’t feel mysterious, difficult, pretentious, or out of reach.
What we’re gushing about though? This piece of trivia that Jacobson used to sneak her art into the MoMA’s gift shop, with the hope that she’d be discovered and be catapulted to fame. Remember season 1 episode 4 where her ‘famous favourites’ paintings are featured at an experimental art gallery that isn’t quite a success? (Okay, we love looking for patterns.)
Anyway, if you’re still wondering if Jacobson’s new podcast is for you, tell us this. Do you find yourself standing in front of a piece of art, and asking the question Jacobson says she still asks — “Am I having the correct feeling?” This podcast’s for you. An easier way to know this? Are you a museum nerd and a modern art aficionado? Then overwhelming yes.