Regen Projects, Los Angeles Private Collection, Los Angeles Acquired from the above by the present owner
Exhibited
Los Angeles, Regen Projects, Doug Aitken, September 11 - October 16, 2009 (another example exhibited)
Catalogue Essay
“I have a restlessness with the way a photograph captures time. The static quality of the ‘frozen’ image or ‘decisive moment’ is not enough. I would like to smash a photograph, open it and see what’s inside.” – Doug Aitken
Doug Aitken explores the complex themes of time and space in his work the handle comes up, the hammer comes down. Created in 2009, this work was included in the artist’s debut exhibition on the West Coast at Regen Projects, which showcased a body of work that contemplated the haunting truths of migration and industrialization. With a conceptual focus on the present, combined with a futuristic aesthetic, the exhibition consisted of imposing wall installations, such as the present lot, that create a narrative encouraging viewers to experience their own individual story. Initially, the LED-lit word “FATE” speaks loudly and directly to its viewers, drawing their attention. Once engaged with the work, one will focus more intimately on the displayed landscape of a sunset over a lifeless parking lot.
In his work, Aitken utilizes fragments of information drawing from disparate experiences that he then pieces together to create a unique perspective. The present work allows the viewer to peer into the depicted landscape only through a narrow viewing space. Unable to see the landscape in totality, the viewer fills in the blanks according to their own life experiences and their interpretations of the present moment. In the handle comes up, the hammer comes down, Aitken comments on the endless opportunities and limitations of the cinematic gaze as the audience forms a relationship with his multi-dimensional content.