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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Video still from Documentation of Selected Works, 1971-74

by Chris Burden

Video still from Documentation of Selected Works, 1971-74

Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York
 

Tough & Tender
(More information, View all 18 images)

Vy (Cowsill) 2016 by Rozalind Drummond
Untitled (42nd Street Series), 1979–80
Hugh 2015, by Warwick Baker
Benny (42nd Street Series), 1979–80

Related information

Video still from Documentation of Selected Works, 1971-74 by Chris Burden
Video still from Documentation of Selected Works, 1971-74 by Chris Burden
Video still from Documentation of Selected Works, 1971-74 by Chris Burden
Video still from Documentation of Selected Works, 1971-74 by Chris Burden

Danger boy

About Face article

27 June 2016

I didn’t ever meet the American artist Chris Burden but about 20 years ago I wrote to him. I was after the loan of some photographic prints of his most famous performance: he had arranged for a friend to fire a bullet so it would graze his arm.
Bed piece, 1972 by Chris Burden
Bed piece, 1972 by Chris Burden
Bed piece, 1972 by Chris Burden
Bed piece, 1972 by Chris Burden

The boy, the bed and the gun

Magazine article by Dr Christopher Chapman, 2016

Christopher Chapman contemplates the provocative performance art of Chris Burden. 
Spencer 2016, by Warwick Baker
Spencer 2016, by Warwick Baker
Spencer 2016, by Warwick Baker
Spencer 2016, by Warwick Baker

Tough & Tender

Previous exhibition, 2016

Art by Warwick Baker, Chris Burden, Larry Clark, Rozalind Drummond, Nan Goldin, Robert Mapplethorpe and Collier Schorr explores personal relations, individual expression and fluid identity.
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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