Gerard Byrne's 'In Our Time' video installation at Lisson Gallery New York examines media nostalgia
From November 3 to December 22, Lisson Gallery in New York showcases 'In Our Time' (2017), a video installation by Irish artist Gerard Byrne. Initially commissioned for Skulptur Projekte Münster, this piece recreates a pop radio station control room from the 1970s and 1980s, featuring a video of a DJ alongside a live band. The installation incorporates theatrical aspects and simulates 24-hour broadcast cycles through algorithmic programming. As visitors navigate the space, they trigger various audio and video channels. The DJ spins nostalgic tracks, including 'Femme Fatale' (1967) by The Velvet Underground and Janis Joplin's 'Me and Bobby McGee' (1971). The work engages with historical themes and critiques Marxist-influenced video art, addressing commercial breaks and collective memory.
Key facts
- Gerard Byrne's 'In Our Time' (2017) video installation runs at Lisson Gallery New York from 3 November to 22 December
- Originally commissioned for Skulptur Projekte Münster and first installed in a Münster library
- Recreates a 1970s-1980s pop radio station control room with rear-projected video showing DJ, live band, and period details
- Gallery features theatrical elements: red curtains, vintage speakers, piano, sheet-music stands, microphone mounts
- Algorithmic programming mimics 24-hour broadcasting cycles while announcing actual local time
- Viewer movement activates additional audio/video channels (piano triggers overhead speakers, rear speakers reveal interview)
- Features melancholic era hits by The Velvet Underground, Janis Joplin, Iggy Pop, and The Carpenters
- References historical events: Reagan's early-1980s nuclear deals and Alberta King's 1974 violent death
Entities
Artists
- Gerard Byrne
- Richard Serra
- Carlota Fay Schoolman
- Martha Rosler
- Janis Joplin
- Iggy Pop
- Karen Carpenter
- Alison Landsberg
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Alberta King
Institutions
- Lisson Gallery
- Skulptur Projekte Münster
- ArtReview
- The Gap
- Chevrolet
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Münster
- Germany