Clown Torture
E468498
Clown Torture is a 1987 multi-channel video installation by Bruce Nauman that repeatedly depicts distressed clowns in looping, disorienting scenarios to explore themes of anxiety, absurdity, and psychological torment.
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
multi-channel video installation
ⓘ
video installation ⓘ |
| aimsTo |
explore psychological stress
ⓘ
interrogate entertainment and cruelty ⓘ provoke discomfort ⓘ |
| associatedWith |
the uncanny in performance
ⓘ
themes of fear and humor ⓘ |
| countryOfOrigin |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
|
| creator | Bruce Nauman NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| depicts |
clown
ⓘ
distressed clown ⓘ falling objects ⓘ repetitive actions ⓘ slapstick violence ⓘ |
| displayedAs | room-sized installation ⓘ |
| exhibitedAt |
Art Institute of Chicago
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Tate Modern NERFINISHED ⓘ various contemporary art museums ⓘ |
| format |
looping video
ⓘ
multi-channel video ⓘ |
| genre |
contemporary art
ⓘ
video art ⓘ |
| hasInfluenceOn | later video installation art ⓘ |
| hasPart |
scene of clown on a toilet
ⓘ
scene of clown repeatedly dropping objects ⓘ scene of clown shouting "No, no, no" ⓘ scene of clown under a bucket ⓘ |
| hasVisualStyle |
frontal framing
ⓘ
repetitive editing ⓘ stark lighting ⓘ |
| inception | 1987 ⓘ |
| language | English ⓘ |
| mainSubject |
absurdity
ⓘ
anxiety ⓘ psychological torment ⓘ repetition ⓘ violence and fear in popular imagery ⓘ |
| medium |
color video
ⓘ
sound installation ⓘ |
| movement |
conceptual art
ⓘ
postminimalism ⓘ |
| notableWorkOf | Bruce Nauman NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| numberOfScreens | 4 ⓘ |
| partOf | Bruce Nauman’s video works ⓘ |
| usesTechnique |
looping
ⓘ
simultaneous projections ⓘ split-screen projection ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.