Born: April 11, 1946, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Died: May 10, 2015, Topanga, California, USA
Nationality: American
Style: Performance Art, Body Art
Influences: Vietnam War, Conceptual Art, Existentialism
"I wanted to be taken seriously as an artist... I wanted to do something that was truly memorable."
Notable Artwork
Shoot (1971)
About Chris Burden
Born: April 11, 1946, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Died: May 10, 2015, Topanga, California, USA Nationality: American Style: Performance Art, Body Art Influences: Vietnam War, Conceptual Art, Existentialism Major Exhibitions: “Shoot” (1971), “Trans-fixed” (1974), “Doomed” (1975) Quote: “I wanted to be taken seriously as an artist… I wanted to do something that was truly memorable.”
Notable Artwork: Shoot (1971)
In this controversial performance, Burden had a friend shoot him in the arm with a.22 rifle from a distance of about 15 feet.
Significance
Shoot is one of the most notorious works of Performance Art. It pushed the boundaries of art and the body, exploring themes of violence, risk, and the limits of artistic expression. It raised questions about the role of the artist and the audience in the creation of meaning.