Chris Burden: The Provocative Pioneer of Performance Art

A Life of Danger and Artistic Expression

Chris Burden is known for pushing the boundaries of art and his own physical limits, becoming a legendary figure in the world of performance art. His most famous works, including Shoot (1971) and 747 (1973), have left audiences both shocked and intrigued, solidifying his reputation as a fearless and innovative artist.

Early Life and Career

Born on April 11, 1946, in Boston, Massachusetts, Burden grew up in a family of intellectuals. His father, Robert Burden, was an engineer, and his mother, Rhoda Burden, was a biologist. The family moved frequently during his childhood, living in Cambridge, Massachusetts, France, and Italy. A motorscooter crash on the island of Elba at the age of 12 left Burden severely injured, requiring emergency surgery without anesthesia on his left foot. This traumatic experience sparked his interest in visual art, particularly photography.

Education and Early Performances

Burden studied visual arts, physics, and architecture at Pomona College, graduating in 1969. He then pursued his MFA at the University of California, Irvine, where he was mentored by Robert Irwin. During this period, Burden began experimenting with performance art, creating provocative works that explored the concept of personal danger as artistic expression.

Controversial Performances

• Five Day Locker Piece (1971): Burden's first significant performance, created for his master's thesis, involved locking himself in a locker for five days.
• 747 (1973): The artist fired several pistol shots directly at a Boeing 747 passenger jet plane taking off from Los Angeles International Airport, with a single witness documenting the act.
• Shoot (1971): Perhaps his most notorious work, Burden was shot in his left arm by an assistant from a distance of about 16 feet.

Career Highlights and Major Works

Burden's creative output spanned multiple mediums, including sculpture, installation art, and photography. Some of his notable works include:

• Bed Piece (1972): Burden lay in a bed in a gallery for 22 days, creating a haunting exploration of vulnerability and intimacy.
• TV Commercials (1973-1977): Burden created a series of satirical television commercials, critiquing the role of media in society.
• Urban Light (2008): A large-scale installation composed of 202 restored cast-iron street lamps, exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Influence and Legacy

Chris Burden's courageous and unapologetic approach to art has inspired generations of artists, forcing the art world to reevaluate the limits of creativity and experimentation. His work continues to provoke and fascinate, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and daring.

Awards and Honors

Burden received numerous awards and honors during his lifetime, including:

• The Guggenheim Fellowship (1985)
• The National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship (1976)
• The American Academy of Arts and Letters Award (1994)

Personal Milestones and Key Life Events

Burden's life was marked by both creative triumphs and personal struggles. He married twice, first to Barbara Burden in 1965 and then to Nancy Rubins in 2005. He passed away on May 10, 2015, leaving behind a legacy of artistic innovation and provocation.