MATTA-CLARK, Gordon

Office Baroque, 1977, printed posthumously ca. 1990

Gelatin silver print

7 x 10" PRINT; 14 1/2 X 17" FRAME

Some of Gordon Matta-Clarks best-known works are what he called his cuts, or large excisions executed by the artist in portions of the facades, walls and floors of soon-to-be demolished buildings. These cuts completely altered the buildings, letting in light and all manner of natural elements into the dusty, dark interiors. In so doing, he offered an alternative that upset the prevailing idea of what architecture could do and look like. These cuts also became visual statements against, as he put it, the containerization of usable space in the interests of capitalist gain, especially at the expense of the cohesiveness of the city and historical memory.

1977, printed posthumously ca. 1990

MATTA-CLARK, Gordon

b. United States, 1943-1978

Gift of Nicholas Olsberg

2014.001.001