Christian Boltanski’s Bonfire of Humanity in NYC

Christian Boltanski’s new project, No Man’s Land, fills 55,000 square feet inside the Wade Thompson Drill Hall at the Park Avenue Armory in New York. Using 30 tons of discarded clothing in all shapes, colors and sizes, Boltanski piled a twenty-five-foot high bonfire pyramid, surrounded by 45 rectangular plots of clothing arranged in a mass grave fashion. 

This unusual graveyard is complimented by a 60-foot crane, which grabs and lifts garments up in the air, just to discard them back. The exhibit opens with a 66-foot-long crypt wall of rusty numbered tin cans and is accompanied by the sounds of 45,000 human heartbeats from around the world.

This exhibit challenges the futility of possession and explores the themes of individuality and anonymity in life and death.  

As part of the installation, visitors are invited to record their own heartbeat and offer it to the artist for his collection.

Christian Boltanski, “No Man’s Land,” 2010.

Curated by Tom Eccles.


Photos Courtesy of Park Avenue Armory

May 14 - June 13, 2010

Open Hours

Tuesday through Sunday (except Thursday): Noon – 7:30pm

Thursday: 2pm – 9:30pm

Monday, May 31: Noon – 7:30pm (Memorial Day)

CLOSED MONDAYS (except Memorial Day)

Admission

$12 General Admission (12 and older)

$10 Seniors (62 and up), Students (with valid ID), Groups (8 or more)

FREE: Children (11 and under)

FREE: PARK AVENUE ARMORY MEMBERS