William Forsythe
City of Abstracts

Provided

© 2000 William Forsythe

City of Abstracts
Provided
ArtistAmerican, born 1949
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • City of Abstracts
Date2000
MediumVideo wall, camera, and computer software, edition 1/6 + 1 AP
DimensionsDimensions variable
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund
Object number2020.117
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Atrium Floor 1
On view

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Department
Modern and Contemporary Art
Object Type
DescriptionBlurring the lines between performance, sculpture, and video, William Forsythe launched his series of Choreographic Objects in 1991, inviting viewers to connect to how they move in space and in relation to one another. City of Abstracts is among the most seductive and visually arresting works in the series: the more the viewer moves, the more the video playback becomes distorted. Forsythe has described the interactive nature of this installation: "The public must move or the work doesn’t speak."
ProvenanceThe artist; purchased by MFAH, 2020.
Exhibition History"William Forsythe: Choreographic Objects," Boston: Institute of Contemporary Art, October 31, 2018–February 21, 2019; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, May 25–September 19, 2019.

Additionally, the work has had wide exposure at the following venues:

Frankfurt, Hauptwache, 2000; Paris, Nuit Blanche, 2003; Frankfurt, Städelmuseum, 2005; Zurich, Schauspiel Zurich, Central Station, 2005; Berlin, Sony Center Potsdamer Platz, 2006; Munich, Pinakothek der Moderne, 2006; Dresden, Neustadt, 2006; Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia Danza, 2007; Athens, Hellenic Festival, 2007; Rovereto, Museo di Arte moderna (MART), 2008; Toronto, Mobile Version, Luminato, Art Gallery of Ontario, 2008; Seoul, Nam June Paik Art Center, 2008; Columbus, Wexner Center for the Arts, 2009; London, Tate Modern, 2009; Monaco, Grimaldi Forum, 2009; Hamburg, Kampnagel, 2010; Admont, Stift, 2010; Montpellier, Musée Fabre, 2010; London, Hayward Gallery, 2010; Budapest, Hungarian National Gallery, 2011; Taipei, Arts Festival, 2011; Amsterdam, Holland Festival, 2012; Essen, Folkwang Museum, 2013; Frankfurt, MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst, 2015; Istanbul, Design Biennale, 2016; Sao Paulo, SESC Pompeia, 2019; Linz, Kulturquartier, 2019.

Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
N.A.
N.A.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

Méliès
Hubbard/Birchler
Méliès
2011
Two-channel video, edition 1/6 + 2 AP
2011.607
Provided
Brian Bress
SKY
2015
Three-channel video and framed monitors, edition 1/1 +1 AP
2019.327.A-.C
Current
Jawshing Arthur Liou
Current
2009
Single-channel video, edition 1/6 + 1 AP
2009.1312
Mike Kelley, 17
Jennifer Steinkamp
Mike Kelley, 17
2012
Single-channel video, edition 1/1 + 1 AP
2019.186
BMX Channel
Shaun Gladwell
BMX Channel
2013
Single-channel video, AP 1/2
2014.921
Orbit 11
Jennifer Steinkamp
Orbit 11
2011
Single-channel video, edition 3/3 + 1 AP
2011.1021
City Deep
William Kentridge
City Deep
2020
Single channel video with stereo audio, edition 5/9 + 3 AP Editing by Janus Fouché Music: “Imimoya (Spirits),” composed by Nhlanhla Mahlangu; “Works for Prepared Piano,” composed by John Cage, performed by Markus Hinterhäuser
2020.558
The Visitors
Ragnar Kjartansson
The Visitors
2012
Nine-channel video, edition of 6, artist's proof 1/2
2018.54.A-.I
Still of video
Josh Azzarella
Untitled #27 (Unknown Rebel)
2006
Single-channel video, edition 5/7 + 3 AP
2013.336
Untitled: Silueta Series
Ana Mendieta
Untitled: Silueta Series
1979
Single channel video, color, silent, 1/8 + 3 AP
2021.566
On the Edge
Miguel Ángel Ríos
On the Edge
2005
Two-channel video, edition 5/8 + 1 EP + 2 AP
2010.171
Third Person Dialogue
Jooyeon Park
Third Person Dialogue
2006
Single channel video, edition 1/4 + 2 AP
2007.1283