Chess, Art and Marcel Duchamp

From the St. Louis Examiner Hypermodern dadist in the livery of a trebuchet, even May 22, 7:56 PM Imagine for a moment that the “Bachelors” or “Nine Malic Molds” of Marcel Duchamp’s Large Glass, represent the eight pawns material to a chess player, that they connote the eight files or eight paths which a pawn is compelled to take toward the eighth and final rank, or what is for the pawn its long sought place and moment of gratification, union, and transition. Imagine that the Ninth Malic Mold, the Stationmaster of Duchamp’s notes, represents Duchamp, the artist as guide and gatekeeper, the viewer as witness, the protagonist of Duchamp’s anonymous allegory, the metaphorical player of chess himself and the King which functions as his medium and stand in. . . . There can be little doubt that Duchamp’s work can be difficult and its references obscure, however, in anticipation of the potential need for a digestive aid, there is also a book available through the SLUMA website and the Saint Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center, with essays by Duchamp scholars Francis M. Naumann and Bradley Bailey, and analysis of several of Duchamp’s more significant games provided by two-time Women’s Chess Champion (2002, 2004) and author Jennifer Shahade. The book entitled, Marcel Duchamp: The Art of Chess, and prepared for concurrence with the exhibit should, for those seeking full effect, be considered as integral to it. . . . Rest of article.