4/4/2013
Chris Burden
Bio Rio, Stockholm
Artist talk
Chis Burden, first received considerable attention in the early 1970s for his controversial performances during which he frequently put his own safety at risk. These works often extended over several days and took place behind closed doors, thereby adding to their myth. In Trans-Fixed (1974) the artist allowed himself to be nailed through both hands (as if being crucified) onto the back of a Volkswagen Beetle and in Shoot (1971) he had a friend shoot him in the arm with a rifle. After a few intense years as a performance artist, Burden shifted his focus toward sculpture and installation. These works are characterized by his practical and inventive experimentation, documentation and production in which he tests and re-imagines the roles of art, science and technology. Chris Burden lives and works in Los Angeles, USA.