Body Pressure, 1974

Walls, text and poster prints on colored paper
64 x 42 cm
Friedrich Christian Flick collection in the Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
 
Prior to the 1970s, Bruce recorded himself doing various repetitive movements in the private space of his studio. These recordings have since been turned into video or film works. Throughout his artistic trajectory, Bruce has slowly reduced his presence in his works and has welcomed the participation of his audience in his works. This is evident in the work Body Pressure.

This work consists of descriptions and instructions for a scene where the audience is encouraged to represent the idea of displacement as has been experienced by people in numerous public spaces. Performance works are normally held in galleries, but such spaces usually clearly demarcate the border between audience and performer. Body Pressure on the other hand relies on the visitors to the exhibition. Through his works, Bruce invites the public to move their bodies in a space where the aforementioned works can appear.

 

About the Artist

​​Bruce Nauman treats art as a kind of event, rather than as a product. He prioritises precision of meaning rather than aesthetic ability and tends to explore aspects of his own body as inspiration for his arts practice which appear in various forms, including: sculpture, photography, neon lighting, video, drawings, printed imagery and performance. Bruce contests the meaning of art and the role of the artist, exploring the limits of conscience as well as questioning the signifiers of social life. He is a graduate of both the University of Wisconsin and University of California.


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