Heavy Rotation

Directed by Chris Larson

Heavy Rotation (2011) deals with a theme that has recurred frequently through the history of art: the artist at work in the studio. Here, though, the studio is not simply the location of the artwork’s genesis; the artist uses the artwork itself to dissect the space—and ultimately destroy the site—of its own production. In the video, Larson uses a turntable apparatus to inscribe circles onto paper, eventually perforating it. He continues the action until he breaks through the floor, creating a disorienting passage into unexpected new spaces. — Whitney Museum 2014