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In this film, artist Mika Rottenberg considers a survey of her videos in which women work in factory-like settings to create handmade objects. Growing up in Israel, Rottenberg recalls not being exposed to commercials on television until she was a teenager; after moving to New York City, she encountered infomercials such as Ron Popeil’s “set it and forget it” Showtime Rotisserie chicken oven. Fascinated by the stories surrounding these inventions, Rottenberg creates her own fabricated products as well as idiosyncratic fictions about the origins of objects. Populating her videos with women who have extreme physiques and who sell their services on the Internet—such as wrestling, squashing, and photo opportunities—Rottenberg’s imaginary factories are run by people who “own the means of production.” Throughout her videos Rottenberg draws the viewer’s attention to the architecture of the body and the psychological dimensions of labor and value. Featuring the works “Tropical Breeze” (2004), “Mary’s Cherries” (2004), “Dough” (2005-06), and “Squeeze” (2010).

Mika Rottenberg (b. 1976, Bueno Aires, Argentina; raised in Tel Aviv, Israel) lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

CREDITS | “New York Close Up” Created & Produced by: Wesley Miller & Nick Ravich. Editor: Brad Kimbrough. Cinematography: John Marton. Sound: Eric Diebner. Associate Producer: Ian Forster. Design & Graphics: Crux Studio & Open. Artwork: Mika Rottenberg. Additional Camera & Sound: Heather Foster, Tall Kat, Ronen Nagel, Queen Raqui, Ronco, Rock Rose, Ann Rossetti, Paul Ruest, Mahyad Tousi & Aaron Young. Thanks: Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery.

“New York Close Up” is supported, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; Toby Devan Lewis; Lambent Foundation; the Dedalus Foundation, Inc.; and the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Inc. Additional support provided by The 1896 Studios & Stages, and by individual contributors.

The Video was produced by Art21.