Fox and Burden

First things first! Burden. Let me say a few words about the milder pieces before I enter my central argument. About Bed Piece I can't say that it's the most unusual thing I've seen, especially given the other pieces, but I am curious to know more about the experience. why was tempting him to stay? how did it feel to break out of the routine? how was the human exhibition perceived? On Icarus, to see the darkness that filled the room after the burst of light was definitely fascinating. Perhaps that is what Icarus felt as he fell, feeling the blazing glory of sun in the sky give way to the deep dark abyss below.

Now on to my main response…

At one point during Fireroll, Burden mentions that the other people in the gallery don't consider what he was doing “art.” As I watched that piece wondered what is art in his view? Is being provocative art or is there need for something more? Is it about the artist's expression or the audience's impression? It is easy to say both, but what I am wondering is what matters more? It seems to me that in the case of Burden, he is much more concerned with being shocking then getting a certain response.

There are times that it pays to be unusual and provocative. In Back to you, t was interesting to see that volunteer agreed solemnly to follow thru with the task and the fact that he chose to do an pattern around Bruden's navel, sort of like a kid with a paint brush. Burden repeatedly allows himself to be subjected to pain in the name of art. Through this process, his body becomes the piece [of art]. Or in Deadman, one observes the danger in being provocative and the sacrifice necessary to get your message across.


However, there is a limit to how far you can go with the danger and sacrifice. When boundary between artistic and manic behavior is blurred, you have gone too far. With Burden’s work it all begins at the beginning. 220 begs the question why would you even attempt something so risky? Perhaps curiosity and an attempt to create stimulating piece. Then comes Shoot, making you believe that this is as far as a sane human being will go in his attempt. I have to say, despite the initial shock, you realize the power of the piece in evoking suspense, anger, and fear. But then there is Throught the Night Softly— my fisrt impression? sick! Maybe I don't understand art, but I think I have a clear idea what self-torture is, and crawling through broken glass hand-cuffed definitely qualifies. This makes you want to suggest to Burden to see a psychologist.

When it got to Velvet water, I had to stop; I could not do it anymore. There is a threshold for how much disturbing material you can take, I had reached mine by the third minute of this piece. Also, it bothered me that after all the narration that tend to be somewhat of a relief in earlier pieces, he chose to stop explaining, giving us reasons and help us comprehend. We are not fish, not anymore; water does not sustain life in the same way as air. Why does art always attempt to challenge science?

Well I guess not always, judging from Fox’s work. Children’s Tape felt like fifth grade science course with the coolest teacher ever. The way he set up the experiments, without any explanation, made me guess and wonder as to what it was all about. Once I got into it, then I was theorizing various outcomes. The level of engagement I felt surprised me. The expanding star made of matches and water was one of the most extraordinary things I have seen— using so few and so simple material. Fox somehow reminds me of Da Vinci, the marriage of art and science, the beauty of natural phenomenon.

Overall, in my opinion, it was much more appealing than the Burden pieces. What it lacked was the most prominent element in Burden's work, the quality of being provocative. What I felt was utter fascination, yet I will most probably forget about some Fox's experiments soon because what I saw was not etched in my mind, it did not arouse the same feelings of disturbance and disgust that would make me question the work and the artist. I think with Fox there is acceptance, with Burden there is skepticism.