Somewhere between warfare and entertainment, sports as a spectacle is deeply rooted in the ways modern societies organize, present and consume events and expectations. Pacing through “SECONDARY: commencement,” there is a sense of nostalgia that belongs to a media golden age when image and appearance began being prioritized over genuine reality. Matthew Barney’s installation might be a MedSpa-inspired rendition of a football field. A zingy crimson carpet spread nearly wall-to-wall with a marked center zone ready for scrimmage: benches fit for a modern gym are perched on the edges of the room; heavy breathing sounds from active, hard-working bodies fill the space; multiple TVs hang from the ceiling, preparing audiences to digest a film depicting the brutal moment when Jack Tatum changes Darryl Stingley’s life forever. This combination creates a sense of drama and game and yet something is missing. As I think, much of this focus on violence being a precondition for human spectacle is not changing and will remain a phenomena, however, the illusion in how we interact with it is. While Barney’s presentation is dutifully clear, coherent and well-executed, its setup is focused on a public fascination that—I’m not convinced—accurately reflects where we are now and the updated social expectations and dynamics that come along with this interaction. Barney recycles the topics in which we associate with him, such as physical endurance, bodily transformation, corporeal violence and mythology-fetishism. The value in this exhibition lies in demonstrating the commodified experience, except, the commodified experience today is incredibly different from the period from which he is recycling his ideas. Though I will say, this specific lack gives the show a kind of ardor I didn’t expect as I inventoried my engagement, which was provoked.

Regen Projects
6750 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
On view through August 17, 2024