Group 2
Skip to main content
Spiral Jetty
Spiral Jetty
Spiral Jetty

Spiral Jetty

Artist (USA, 1938 - 1973)
Alternate Title
  • Spiralpir
Date1970
Medium16 mm film transferred to video, color, sound
Dimensions35:00 min
ClassificationMoving Images
Credit LinePurchase 2012
Countries
Object NumberMOM/2012/19
CollectionsMaterialitet
The artwork is not on display
About the artworkRobert Smithson created his gigantic land art sculpture Spiral Jetty in Great Salt Lake, Utah in 1970. He was fascinated by the harsh landscape with its vestiges of old industries. Smithson was interested in the relationship between man and landscape, comparing the bulldozed earth with ancient monuments. The film about this project is a work in its own right according to the artist. It describes the place and the process, but also the artist’s sense of wonder at fundamentally altering a site, enter a course of events that began in prehistoric times. The helicopter shots in the final scene reveal the enormous scale of the sculpture but also portrays it as pure form. Here Spiral Jetty appears liberated from its setting and its history.
Description Han fascinerades av det kärva landskapet med rester av förfallen industri. Smithson intresserade sig för förhållandet människa och landskap, och liknade de schaktade jordmassorna vid antikens monument. Filmen är för konstnären ett verk i sin egen rätt. Den beskriver platsen och arbetsprocessen, men också konstnärens förundran över att påverka ett skeende med början i förhistorisk tid. Slutscenens tagningar från helikopter visar på skulpturens enorma skala, men betonar den också som ren form. I filmverket tycks Spiral Jetty stå fri gentemot sin omgivning och historia. Robert Smithson created his gigantic land art sculpture Spiral Jetty in Great Salt Lake, Utah in 1970. He was fascinated by the harsh landscape with its vestiges of old industries. Smithson was interested in the relationship between man and landscape, comparing the bulldozed earth with ancient monuments. This film is a work in its own right according to the artist. It describes the place and the process, but also the artist’s sense of wonder at altering a course of events that began in prehistoric times. The helicopter shots in the final scene reveal the enormous scale of the sculpture but also portrays it as pure form. Here Spiral Jetty appears liberated from its setting and its history. Selected exhibition history Robert Smithson: Retrospektiv. Verk 1955-1973 (1999) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Filmvår! Film och video ur Moderna Museets samling (den 3 mars 2012 - den 22 april 2012) Moderna Museet, Stockholm Samlingsutställning 2019-2022 (den 1 februari 2019 - den 27 augusti 2023) Moderna Museet, Stockholm The Moderna Museet exhibition catalogues Robert Smithson : retrospektiv, verk 1955 - 1973 : Moderna Museet, Stockholm : [19/6 1999 - 12/9 1999]