Welcome to Heartbreak.

As I entered the main stage of the Ace Gallery last night, guided by the crowd and the pulse of 808’s to a neon-lit, surreal performance of masked nude models, I realized Kanye West has gone a long way since Graduation.

The tribe of naked ladies – black in front of the stage, and white in the back – moved slowly to the emotional melodies of Kanye’s upcoming album, like breathing the music on cold cement. The tableau was orchestrated by one of my favorite contemporary artists, Vanessa Beekcroft.

From all reviews of the event, my favorite quote is by Jimmy Kimmel, who told Rolling Stones: “I’m sure it’s beautiful art, and many people can appreciate it on a much deeper level than I can,” he said of Beecroft’s work. “But I look out there and see a lot of good-looking naked girls, and it makes me happy.”

ladyshark