Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle: Cremaster 3 in conjunction with Matthew Barney: Redoubt at Hayward Gallery.
The Cremaster Cycle is a series of five visually extravagant films created by artist Matthew Barney that blasted its way into the art world nearly 20 years ago, and has had a lasting impact ever since: its influence can be found in film, video, art, media, commerce, theatre and more. Barney himself performs characters as diverse as a satyr, a magician, and even the infamous murderer Gary Gilmore. Filmed over eight years, from 1994 to 2002, the films themselves are a grandiose mixture of history, autobiography and mythology, creating an intensely private universe where symbols and images are layered and interconnected. Created for the big screen only and unavailable for many years, The Cremaster Cycle is a unique, must-see experience, guaranteed to leave you awestruck and mystified in a glorious way.
Cremaster 3 (2002, starring Richard Serra as Hiram Abiff, Matthew Barney as the Entered Apprentice, and Aimee Mullins as the Entered Novitiate) Set in New York’s Chrysler Building, this final film is part zombie thriller, part gangster film, involving much Freemasonry, Celtic lore, and Art Deco design. As grotesque as it is glorious.
These screenings are presented in conjunction with the exhibition Matthew Barney: Redoubt at Hayward Gallery (until 25 July), featuring the artist's latest feature-length film alongside a series of imposing and intricate sculptures cast from fallen trees and over 40 engravings and electroplated copper plates.
Matthew Barney
CREMASTER 3, 2002
Production still
2002 Matthew Barney
Photo: Chris Winget
Courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York and Brussels
