chris burden suspends vintage porsche with 390 pound meteorite

an exhibition of two large-scale works by the late iconic artist chris burden includes a vintage porsche 914 suspended by a 390-pound meteorite. the work draws attention to the relativity of size, weight, and value, juxtaposing refined german manufacture with an extraterrestrial metal chunk. 

images courtesy of gagosian

gagosian’s london gallery is hosting the exhibition entitled ‘measured’ which explores burden’s challenges to physical limitations through art and performance. burden pushes the ‘precarious sense of balance’ in porsche with meteorite (2013) and 1 ton crane truck (2009) respectively, with the latter comprising a one-ton cast-iron cube that lifts the entire frame of a functional, 1964 ford F350 crane-truck. 

‘with a series of startling actions in the early 1970s, burden challenged his own mental and physical limitations, and with them the boundaries of art and performance,’ said the gallery. ‘over the course of his career, the daring spirit of these early performances evolved into compelling large-scale sculptures that embody technical feats on an imposing scale.’

as a young artist chris burden became known for his radical performance art. in 1971 he spent five days and nights in the fetal position inside a locker for one piece (five day locker piece), shot in the arm (shoot) and asked his assistant to shoot him at point blank range for another. in each burden sought to reflect the violence that defined american politics, society, and media.

in his most recent works burden plays with the distribution of weight, bringing into focus both the value of a vehicle and the laws of the universe. a porsche weighing in at 993.4 kilograms (2,190 lbs.), weighs down the short end of a beam carrying a meteorite, at 176.9 kilograms (390 pounds.), counterbalancing it on the long end.

‘measured‘ is on view until january 26, 2019.