doug aitken activates his california home as a musical experience in 'acid modernism' video

doug aitken continues his virtual road trip through the creative process in an exclusive, ongoing video series with designboom, shared during the unpredictable times that COVID-19 has provoked. each of the short films has been shot in a different location, and documents the artist’s diverse work — from a nomadic art installation that travelled across massachusetts by air, to a mirror-clad ‘mirage’ set in the swiss alps. aitken’s visual sojourn invites viewers on a creative odyssey across landscape, artistic expression and societal currents — from wherever in the world they are experiencing this unprecedented moment in time.

sound on (!) for the fifth video of the series, where aitken activates his own home in venice, california to become an interactive musical experience. in this moment, friends perform at the house and bring the dwelling to life.

‘acid modernism’ is the moniker of both aitken’s design of his private residence in california, as well as an aesthetic philosophy. a phrase with a manifold meaning, modernism implies an analytical approach to architecture, and other functional elements, such as industrially produced materials. in contrast, acid denotes experimentation — an enhanced perceptual experience, even hallucination, and an ecological awareness associated with 60s counterculture. in this clip, we see aitken’s home activated by a group of friends for a video rendition of ‘acid modernism’. two tables designed by the artist double as both musical instruments and functioning furniture — one is made of slices of tuned marble, and the other of wooden chambers designed to create a percussion sound. the staircase of the house is engaged with as a musical device, with each wooden step hiding a microphone — in turn, becoming a series of musical notes that can be performed by visitors.

see more from doug aitken’s virtual road trip through the creative process, and stay tuned as designboom continues the series across our site, and on instagram.

doug aitken, acid modernism, 2010
all images courtesy of the artist, 303 gallery, new york; galerie eva presenhuber, zürich; victoria miro gallery, london; and regen projects, los angeles
photo by doug aitken workshop (also main image)