Matthew Barney
Occidental Restraint, 2005–2009
Matthew Barney (1967)
Occidental Restraint, 2005–2009
Cast polycaprolactone thermoplastic, self-lubricating plastic, polyethylene, and expanded polypropylene
Variable dimensions

The sculptural installation Occidental Restraint was produced following Barney’s film Drawing Restraint 9. Set in Japan, the film features the artist alongside his then partner Björk. With the appearance of a stage set from an undisclosed scene, performance is implied in Barney´s installations even when no specific act is inferred. Barney’s work operates between the spaces of cinema, performance, and object, and is critically situated between reality and various imaginaries as a result.

In the movie, the occidental guests reside in a traditional Japanese house, eating with their hosts, and later turn into whales and return to the sea. A quasi-cannibalistic and erotic relationship emerges between the lovers. The rising ‘spine’ from the masses in Occidental Restraint continues with this tone of merging bodies.

The overlapping space between excitement and revulsion is emblematic of Barney’s explorations of modern global history that was begun with his epic film cycle Cremaster. The photographs feature characters from Cremaster 3.