Artist:
Rirkrit Tiravanija (born 1961 in Buenos Aires, Argentina; lives and works in Chiang Man, Thailand).

Materials:
Chrome and stainless steel; approximately 294.6 x 1198.9 x 599.4 cm.

Description:
“While people remain central to [Tiravanija’s] work, several of his projects incorporate reimagined physical structures or in his words, ‘parallel spaces’ that operate as platforms for quotidian activity… untitled 2002 (he promised) is a chrome and steel structure inspired by the modernist architect Rudolf M. Schindler’s iconic Kings Road House in West Hollywood. While the structure exemplifies the spatial fluidity of Schindler’s open-plan design, the reflective surfaces used to replace the wood and concrete of the original create what Tiravanija describes as ‘a multifaceted image of reality,’ enlivening and multiplying the activities taking place in and around the work. When installed, it becomes an arena for a variety of programs, including DJ sessions, film screenings, panels, and children’s workshops. In search of a shared utopia of experience, this work, as all in Tiravanija’s oeuvre, reconstructs space as a living organism, susceptible and amenable to the flux of participation.”
—”Rirkrit Tiravanija: untitled 2002 (he promised),” Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

“Rirkrit Tiravanija’s untitled 2002 (he promised), 2002, is a platform for improvisation and interaction. Rendered in highly reflective stainless steel and chrome, its structure was inspired by R. M. Schindler’s residence in West Hollywood (1921–22), which exemplifies the architect’s interest in the permeability of domestic space and how it is enlivened by its surrounding context. First exhibited at the Vienna Secession for a period of two months (July 1–September 5, 2002), this large-scale installation was conceived as an arena, a nexus for a series of artistic, public, and private activities—effectively blurring the boundaries that customarily separate them. From the barbecue on opening night to Thai massages, DJ sessions, film programs, and panel discussions, untitled 2002 (he promised) embodied the experiential nature of Tiravanija’s art, which requires the active participation of the viewer in order to be fully realized. Tiravanija is a catalyst and a gracious host, inviting the public to enter into and literally engage with his work. He provides the parameters but never dictates the outcome. The extended run of the show in Vienna allowed the work to become a central, albeit temporary, part of the community, where the ebb and flow of the social could occur. Art and life intersected in a milieu of pleasure and provocation.”
—”Rirkrit Tiravanija’s untitled 2002 (he promised), 2002, is…,” Massachusetts Institute of Technology.