Gordon Matta-Clark : Anarchitect
Underground and Overground in New York and Paris
Gordon Matta-Clark was one of the most influential artists of his generation, until his premature death in 1978. His ‘building cuts’, consisting of aggressive interventions on the structure of derelict buildings, are still regarded as emblematic works. None of these constructions are still in existence. All that remains are photographic documents, films and drawings.
Fresh Kill (1972 / 16mm 13mins)
This film shows the destruction of Matta-Clark’s car, named Herman Maydag, by a a bulldozer in a rubbish dump. First premiered at Documenta 5 in Kassel in 1972.
Conical Intersect (1975, 16mm 19mins)
For the Paris Biennale in 1975, Matta-Clark made a section in two terraced houses in the Georges Pompidou center, in the Les Halles district. The cut, in the shape of a distorted cone, was a reference to Anthony McCall’s film, Line Describing A Cone. This film is all that remains of the event.
Substrait, Underground Dallies (1976, 30mins, 16mm)
Exploring the variety and complexity of underground spaces of New York City : New York Central railroad tracks, Grand Central Station, 13th Street, Croton Aqueduct .
Greg Pope. 