Indestructible object

by Man Ray

Artist Man Ray (USA, 1890 - 1976)

Alternate Title

Oförstörbart objekt

Date1923/1965

MediumBlack lacquered wooden metronome, photograph

DimensionsMetronom: 21,5 x 11,3 x 11,5cm Förvaringsbox: 24 x 13,5 x 13,5cm

ClassificationSculptures

Credit LinePurchase 1966

Countries

United States

On view

Stockholm

RoomGallery 01:4

Object NumberNMSK 1943

About the artworkMan Ray created this work in 1923, a kind of ready-made consisting of a metronome with a photograph of an eye attached to the pendulum. When the photographer Lee Miller, who had been Man Ray’s assistant and partner, left him in 1932 and moved to New York, he created a new version of the work, replacing the original eye with an image of her eye. The first version of the work was titled Object to Be Destroyed and the new one was titled Object of Destruction. At an exhibition in 1957, a group of protesting intellectual and nihilist students, took Man Ray at his word and destroyed the work. For the insurance money, Man Ray created an edition of one hundred copies, which would make it difficult for anyone to destroy them all again, and the work was given the title Indestructible Object. Several of them can be found today in museums around the world.
Signatures, inscriptions and marks Signerad och daterad på etikett på verkets baksida: "Man Ray" / "65", Etikett på baksidan: "édition MAT / man ray / Man Ray / 29/100 / collection 65" Selected exhibition history Surrealism, samlingen (den 19 oktober 2024 - den 18 januari 2026) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Supersurrealismen (den 29 september 2012 - den 27 januari 2013) Moderna Museet Malmö Den underjordiska himlen. Surrealism i Moderna Museets samling Moderna Museet, Stockholm Moderna Museet c/o Bildmuseet - Dada och surrealism (2003) Bildmuseet, Umeå Dansmaskiner (den 22 januari 2014 - den 27 april 2014) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Man Ray (2004) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues Man Ray: [Emmanuel Radnitsky]: Moderna Museet [4.9 - 31.10] 2004Dance machines

Works by the artist