Interiors, Doug Aitken

Four scenes cycle across three screens in Doug Aitken’s mesmerizing video installation, interiors. Individual actors wander through a range of stark landscapes and interiors: industrial lands, a helicopter factory, a locker room, an auction hall. For the most part alone, these figures prepare for various activities. A young woman suits up to play handball; a Japanese auctioneer warms up his voice. Suddenly, their unrelated activities intersect in a strange,
intense piece of music composed for tap dancer, auctioneer, handball player, and rapper (OutKast’s Andre Benjamin). Just as the viewer is drawn into the song, it collapses, restarts, and dissolves. Built of mysterious yet recognizable elements, Aitken’s installation achieves a surprising, stunning synthesis. As a document, it captures a broad, inclusive picture of modern life through an accumulation of moments.