Office Baroque, 1977
Betacam SP, PAL, noir et blanc et couleur, son
As his notoriety increased, Gordon Matta-Clark was offered an immense edifice in Antwerp. It consisted of a somewhat decorative 5-story office building, probably from the 19th century. The film retraces the entire project, from the presentation of Gordon Matta-Clark’s proposals through to the execution of the project. Discussions with the architects highlight the balancing and tension issues that shift with the cuts. For practical and aesthetic reasons, we see the project evolve gradually. Gordon Matta-Clark is on site and works with the labourers who modify his intentions based on the discoveries that they make and the views that appear.
The two dominant forms are two immense circles that traverse the edifice. For once, the editing of the film comes with a soundtrack featuring musical accompaniment, which theatricalises the work. All of the last part of the film reveals points of view over Antwerp through the openings in the building.
Upon the artist’s death several months later, several people attempted to save the work by turning the site into an art centre, but they did not succeed and the building was demolished.
Patricia Maincent
Translated by Anna Knight
