“sleepwalkers”
Directed by Doug Aitken
I’m thinking of a night at the museum—and I don’t have Ben Stiller in mind. Doug Aitken’s “sleepwalkers,” an external cinematic installation at MoMA, is more up my alley. The idea behind this innovative project is “to turn these buildings inside out,” says Aitken. “I was interested in elevating personal and reflective moments, so that they become the structures that surround us.”
“Sleepwalkers” deconstructs the traditional experience of watching films. It will be shown only at night, with no seating available—or allowed. Eight moving images will be spread throughout the museum’s exterior walls, showing scenes from the lives of five characters who awaken in the evening, get dressed and go out into the city to do whatever it is that they do. Seu Jorge (remember him as the Portuguese guy singing Bowie covers in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou?) plays an electrician, Donald Sutherland a businessman, Tilda Swinton an office worker, Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) a postal worker and Ryan Donowho (don’t know who he is? Just check out old episodes of “The O.C.”) is a bike messenger.
There’s no linear narrative, so just enjoy walking around the external grounds of MoMA (for free!) at night while checking out random scenes about imaginary city folk. You’ll get to see such things as Marshall spinning around like a wannabe cheerleader and someone making photocopies of a hand (Tilda, is that you?). It might not all be logical, but it does make for great art. And who knows—you might just find yourself identifying with the characters in these fragmented images, who move in a pulse that reflects the fast-paced, transient moments that constitute this city and the lives of its inhabitants.
Through Feb. 12. MoMA, 11 W. 53 St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-708-9400; 5-10, free.
