Four years in the making, Metropolis II – by American artist Chris Burden – is a breathtaking piece of work, on many levels. Burden’s gigantic kinetic installation may not be the prettiest work showing in an art gallery, but the sheer scale of planning and execution alone could easily rival the meticulous detail of some of the great painters’ works. Some 100,000 miniature cars hastily career through a dense network of roads and freeways. It’s noisy, frantic, and – as the artist says – “produces in the viewer the stress of living in a dynamic, active and bustling 21st Century city”. Currently installed at LA’s LACMA, the detail and intensity of Metropolis II is captivating to say the least; if you have a few hours spare, you could easily lose them here…
Installation view
Chris Burden
Metropolis II, 2010
Photo © 2012 Museum Associates/LACMA
Installation view
Chris Burden
Metropolis II, 2010
Photo © 2012 Museum Associates/LACMA
Installation view
Chris Burden
Metropolis II, 2010
Photo © 2012 Museum Associates/LACMA
Installation view
Chris Burden
Metropolis II, 2010
Photo © 2012 Museum Associates/LACMA
