Gordon Matta-Clark

In an area inhabited mainly by Afro-Americans, Humphrey Street in Englewood, New Jersey, where houses were due for demolition for purposes of city reconstruction, Gordon Matta-Clark made what was probably his most radical cut. The artist split the house practically into two halves by cutting out a thin “slice” from the vertical axis. He then lifted the two halves onto the foundation walls, so that a gap of about five degrees opened up. After that, Matta-Clark removed the four corners from the roof (Four Corners). Horace Solomon, Holly Solomon’s husband, made this condemned house available to Matta-Clark. The couple also organized the “Opening” of the project, where visitors were invited to go into the transformed building. (Sabine Breitwieser)