Unknown Artist

I like to tell guests at SITE about the conceptual art pieces: “Restrooms” “Air Conditioning Unit” and “Emergency exit.” I realized these pieces didn’t have wall text however, so I added some:

Air Conditioning Unit, 1995

Mixed media

Courtesy of the artist and HVAC Solutions

At first glance this sculpture appears to be a functional air conditioning unit. It is a functional air conditioning unit.  Reznor consistently challenges notions about what constitutes art, using throwbacks to Duchamp’s “ready-mades” – often without signage indicating their status as conceptual art.

“Air Conditioning Unit” also makes occasional sounds – minimalist-post-industrial music – perhaps as homage to the namesake “Reznor.”