Title: Trans-fixed
Artist: Chris Burden
Date: 1974
Written Response:
This image is named Trans-fixed and is one of Chris Burdens artwork created in 1974. My first impression of this image is why is there a man lying down the back of a car, but I also thought what if this image was supposed to be of Burden being forced to be on the car as part of a type of torture or abuse. From this artwork I see a car and a man at the back of it without a shirt. One element of design being used in this image is Value because when you take even a quick glance at it you can tell there is lightness and darkness falling on the image adding contrast and enhancing areas of composition by adding texture especially to the car. From what I see in this work of art, Burden decided to choose a really dark blackout space which possibly is a room but all one would see is the car and Chris Burden on the back which grabs my attention the most. The theme of this artwork is violence and abuse because it looks like he is being forced to be on the back on the car with his arms spread out. I think Burden chose to create this work to relate to the cruelty in our world. Chris Burden seems to be a man who creates art using the genre of abuse and violence to show audiences pain. His actually intent of this artwork is displaying him as if he was being crucified and having both his hands hammered with nails to the car. After researching his actually intent I don’t really see the clarity of him being nailed to the car which I still don’t see but I have learnt to always try and see more into artist’s artworks.
