Chris Burden

Shot in the Arm as Art

By: Charles Giuliano - May 17, 2015

Chris Burden

Meeting Chris Burden
7/29/89
Private tour
ICA retrospective
Some apprehension
Pulled a knife on TV interviewer
Conceptual piece
Exploring risk and pain
Limits of human endurance
Like Shoot
Early work in 1971
Shot in the arm as art
Why I asked
As American as Apple Pie
Everybody thinks about it
On TV all the time
Country founded on
People shooting people
Why we don't have many
Indian people
Right
560 Americans each week
Facing our worst fear
Done in a clinical way
Injury everyone abhors
But are fascinated by
Just stood there
I like doing something
Quick and powerful
Friend of mine with rifle
Supposed to just graze me
Draw one drop of blood
Pushing it
Can I see the scar
Hesitation
Rolled up his sleeve
Doubting Thomas