''Trans-Fixed'' was a 1974 performance by
Chris Burden
Christopher Lee Burden (April 11, 1946 – May 10, 2015) was an American artist working in performance, sculpture and installation art. Burden became known in the 1970s for his performance art works, including ''Shoot'' (1971), where he arranged ...
in which he was crucified onto a
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle—officially the Volkswagen Type 1, informally in German (meaning "beetle"), in parts of the English-speaking world the Bug, and known by many other nicknames in other languages—is a two-door, rear-engine economy car, ...
.
Description
On April 23, 1974, performance artist
Chris Burden
Christopher Lee Burden (April 11, 1946 – May 10, 2015) was an American artist working in performance, sculpture and installation art. Burden became known in the 1970s for his performance art works, including ''Shoot'' (1971), where he arranged ...
was crucified shirtless onto the back of a pale blue
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Beetle—officially the Volkswagen Type 1, informally in German (meaning "beetle"), in parts of the English-speaking world the Bug, and known by many other nicknames in other languages—is a two-door, rear-engine economy car, ...
. Burden stood on the car's rear bumper and leaned backwards. His attorney hammered two nails through his open palms into the roof. Three other assistants ran the engine and opened the garage door, which opened into an alley called Speedway in
Venice, California. The assistants rolled the car out of the garage, where it ran while stationary for two minutes with the engine at full throttle. Fifteen of his friends were there, having been invited but not briefed on what to expect.
Burden later displayed relics from the performance, including a plaque alongside the two nails.
Analysis and legacy
The performance was religiously charged in its reference to the
crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion and death of Jesus occurred in 1st-century Judea, most likely in AD 30 or AD 33. It is described in the four canonical gospels, referred to in the New Testament epistles, attested to by other ancient sources, and consid ...
. Burden himself was not Catholic. Interpretations of the piece include Burden atoning for outcry against his prior body art works, or giving commentary on the forgotten connection between the "people's car" built by
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
. Art historians did not know whether to classify it as shamanistic or male egotism.
The performance artist
Marina Abramović sought to use the work in her ''
Seven Easy Pieces
''Seven Easy Pieces'' was a series of performances given by artist Marina Abramović in New York City at the Guggenheim Museum in November 2005.
Although the performance art world traditionally frowns on repeating individual works, valuing the ...
'' but Burden denied her permission.
Dale Eisinger of
''Complex'' described ''Trans-Fixed'' as Burden's most captivating work in his 2013 list of the greatest performance art works.
David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
's "
Joe the Lion
"Joe the Lion" is a song written by David Bowie in 1977 for the album '' "Heroes"''. It was produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti and features lead guitar by Robert Fripp. Like the album as a whole, the song demonstrates the influence of German Krau ...
" alludes to Burden's performance.
References
Bibliography
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Further reading
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{{Portal bar, Visual arts
Performances
Works by Chris Burden
April 1974 events in the United States
1974 in art
1970s photographs