Burden

Richard Dewey and Timothy Marrinan’s feature documentary debut, BURDEN is a compelling portrait of the late art-world provocateur Chris Burden. A meticulous exploration of a complex, ever-evolving individual who became one of the most admired artists of his generation, the film premiered at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival and also played at the 2016 Edinburgh International Film Festival. Magnolia Pictures will open the film in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, May 5 with a national rollout to follow.

Chris Burden guaranteed his place in art history in the 1970s with a series of often dangerous and at times stomach-churning performances. After having himself shot in Santa Ana, confined to a locker for five days in Irvine and crucified on the back of a VW bug in Venice, Burden reinvented himself as the creator of truly mesmerizing installations and sculptures, from a suspended gigantic flywheel that seemingly spins on its own to an assemblage of illuminated, antique streetlights outside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Urban Light (2008), which has become one of Los Angeles’ most photographed and iconic symbols. In BURDEN, Timothy Marrinan and Richard Dewey look at the artist’s work and private life with an innovative mix of still-potent videos of his 70s performances, personal films and audio recordings, latter day footage at his Topanga Canyon studio and comments from friends, fellow students, colleagues and critics, all peppered with Burden’s thoughts and musings from throughout the years.

“Timothy Marrinan and Richard Dewey's loving doc encapsulates Burden's prolific, provocative career and shows why he was one of modern art's most original, daring voices.” – Jason Newman, Rolling Stone

“A fitting appreciation…a portrait of the artist emerges that’s complex, somewhat mysterious, but ultimately quite winning.” – Dennis Harvey, Variety