Ma Bell1971

Ma Bell

1971 · 7 min

not streaming

Paul McCarthy’s Ma Bell (1971/1972) is an early, visceral performance video featuring the artist in a room filled with black motor oil and telephone books. It is a "Black & White Tape" where McCarthy uses the oil as paint to cover a telephone book, involving a shift from controlled, conceptual action to a chaotic, "insane" persona. The piece represents his early exploration of using his body, food, and industrial liquids to create transgressive, psychological performances.

Crew

  • Director Paul McCarthy

Crew

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🔥 Hot takes

warming up the wall…

Intermission

GO DEEPER

Turn the obscurity dial up. There's a lot further down to go.

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