Bruce Nauman, Tate Modern, London

24 July 2017 – 24 July 2018

Works from across the influential American artist’s career are on show in Tate Modern’s dedicated ARTIST ROOMS space.

Bruce Nauman’s mischievous spirit seems to be running amok in Tate Modern at the moment: not only does his collage of disjointed voices greet you as you enter the Turbine Hall, as part of his 2004 sound piece Raw Materials, but a collection of his work is on display in the Blavatnik Building as part of ARTIST ROOMS.

Words, language and communication are at the centre of Nauman’s practice, whether working in sculpture, video or performance. Splicing humour with menace, his works often use wordplay and distortion to explore notions of human identity – circling in on deep-seated fears and compulsions, and our potential for violence. 

Nowhere is this more explicit than in his widely recognised neon sculpture VIOLINS VIOLENCE SILENCE (1981-2), on display as part of this exhibition. Further neon works are joined by the large installation Enforced Perspective: Allegory and Symbolism (1975), a selection of drawings, and significant video works including Raw Material Washing Hands (1996), Good Boy Bad Boy (1985) and Violent Incident (1986) – where a disastrous and disturbing dinner party scene is played across 12 monitors. 

Raw Materials is in the Turbine Hall until 20 August 2017. ARTIST ROOMS: Bruce Nauman runs in the Blavatnik Building until July 2018.