Window displays either leave me feeling warm and nostalgic or with the urge to swipe plastic like there’s no tomorrow. To be ultimately challenged, or feel some sense of self-discovery from one is an entirely new concept.

Mixed-media artists Ryan Brennan and Daniel Cassidy collaborated to construct their latest thought-provoking piece in the Donnell Library windows (the library is now closed) right across the street from MoMa. Like commercial displays, Exponential Reflections of a Finite Forest is available for any gawking passersby—but their piece has a totally different message from “spend, spend, spend.” We talked to Brennan about it.

ReadyMade: How did you formulate the idea for Exponential Reflections of a Finite Forest?
Ryan Brennan: I suppose the idea stemmed from the “Living Exercises” body of work I’ve been doing lately. It’s a mix of public performance and street art. The most basic premise behind this work is to interrupt someone’s day to interject a moment of introspection. Depending on the project, this could be a personal or social experience.

So if you like to incorporate a communal aspect to your work, why a defunct public library? 
When Daniel and I were brainstorming, we entertained a few ideas that were site-specific, but we didn’t think the current owners of the building would be fond of them. One idea was to cover the windows with brown paper as if there was remodeling going on inside the library, and then hang signs in the windows that read Books a Million Coming Soon—a fun play on commercialization but one I’m sure many wouldn’t appreciate!

What would you like viewers to get out of Finite Forest?
When I saw how massive the windows were I realized how great an opportunity it was to reach out to the public with something interactive—not just to throw some art up to be seen, but to make something that could really engage those passing by.

The installation ended up being a mix between a psychological survey about personality types and a flow chart/labyrinth.  The public is invited to answer varying survey-type questions on metaphysics, social norms, morals, love, prosperity, optimism, etc. that are proposed in the form of visual riddles. Depending on the viewer's answer, they follow a dotted line that directs them to a new question.

In the end, this process filters the audience across the windows into six different conclusions that are supposedly revealing of each individual’s personality type. In truth, it’s the questions themselves that are intended to advance the viewer into a mode of self-reflection. The questions are purposefully open-ended and often ambiguous because it’s the individual’s subjectivity that is most revealing about them. Because it’s in a public forum, people can compare their own unique notions on each riddle as well as the conclusions. 

How did you and your collaborator, Daniel Cassidy, work together on this project?
Daniel’s a bit of a rascal—very smart and knowledgeable. But he’s got a bit of a pessimistic outlook, which could be arguably a realist point of few. This works out, as I’m generally optimistic, which could also be argued as a naïve point of view. Nevertheless, this gives us a good balance when we approach collaborating on ideas. We’re both perfectionists and workaholics—you kind of have to be to take on a project this big. I think we’ll definitely collaborate in the future, but I think we could both use a break for a little while.

What has been one of the most interesting or challenging projects you’ve worked on so far?
The performance part of the “Living Exercises” series I find the most physiologically challenging. And that’s exactly what they are designed to do. Part of this body of work comes in the form of a book that is full of various performance pieces one could do by themselves, or with friends, family, and even strangers. Each one is completely different, but they all are intended to broaden your perspective about various things in life. 

Challenging how?
For example, one performance instructs you to go to the city and ask a stranger walking down the block if you can hold their hand for only one block and at the end of that block you are supposed to ask if they want to continue for another block. You’re supposed to keep asking them at the end of every block until they decline. I got some friends together last summer and we hit the streets of Manhattan, and sure enough we were able to get people to hold our hands! The experience made you feel so alive—your only common bond between you and this stranger holding your hand was humanity and that is an incredible feeling!

Another challenging and rewarding performance I did recently with some friends was Lost and Find Yourself Flyer. The instructions are: Take a photo of yourself and make a lost persons flyer. With the flyer, ask strangers on the street if they have seen the person on the flyer. If they recognize that it is you, ask them if they can help you find yourself. If you can believe it, many people here in New York really opened up and we had many deep and rewarding conversations. In all actuality, the project was mostly about interviewing people about their perspectives on how to go about living life and less about you finding yourself. 

(Video documentation of more performance projects can be found here.)

You’re part of No New Enemies Network (NNE)—“a network of artists, designers and creative thinkers.”  How did that happen, and how has it changed your experience as an artist? 
In truth I’m still figuring that out. I’m new to the site but so far I see it as a great platform for networking internationally. A great curator—and now good friend of mine—Lori Zimmer invited me to the network and has helped me make many new connections through the site and otherwise.

Your bio on NNE says you’re “in a constant state of creating.” When did you start making things?
It’s true, but no one really ever wants to hear about how creative you were as a child! But, I will say that my parents have two big boxes full of hundreds of cards I made them—not just for birthdays, but also for random occasions (even sometimes made up ones.) Also, there are several VHS tapes filled of theatrical home movies my brother and I made at my parent’s house! I’d have to say that passion has developed into an obsession healthy or otherwise… 

Thanks for talking with us about your art, Ryan. We’re excited to see your recent installation at the Donnell Library, and keep us posted to what new projects you concoct in the future. 

Update: Brennan has invited all ReadyMakers (and friends) to his reception tomorrow across the street from MoMa. That's October 2nd, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. He and Cassidy rented a fully-stocked party bus to park right in front of Finite Forest. "More the merrier!" Brennan says. 

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