On the fifth floor of the Brooklyn Museum, artist and composer Christian Marclay’s latest film installation Doors (2022) turns the everyday act of walking through doorways into an immersive cinematic experience.
Founded 200 years ago, the Brooklyn Museum is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. The museum holds more than 140,000 objects spanning over 6,000 years of history. From ancient Egyptian works to contemporary art and the country’s only center dedicated to feminist art, the Brooklyn Museum aims to make art accessible and relevant. Through exhibitions, public programs and community initiatives, the museum remains committed to telling broad, inclusive stories and inspiring dialogue and creativity.
Using clips from silent films, black-and-white talkies and modern movies, Marclay creates a continuous loop where doors act as portals through time, emotion and genre. The installation blends sound, multilingual dialogue and seamless editing to create a fluid journey with no clear beginning or end.
In the museum’s Great Hall, another bold presentation brings New York City to life through sculpture. Red Grooms, Mimi Gross and The Ruckus Construction Co.: Excerpts from Ruckus Manhattan features two large-scale scenes from the original 1970s installation. Dame of the Narrows (1975) offers a playful version of the Staten Island Ferry, complete with a towering ferry, suspension bridge and Statue of Liberty set against Lower Manhattan.
Also on view for the first time at the Brooklyn Museum is 42nd Street Porno Bookstore (1976), a new addition to the collection. The sculptural piece satirizes a 1970s Times Square adult storefront and reflects the humor, grit and evolving character of the city.
Both Doors and Ruckus Manhattan are organized by Kimberli Gant, curator of modern and contemporary art, with curatorial assistant Indira A. Abiskaroon.
Together, these installations highlight the Brooklyn Museum’s continued commitment to presenting bold, thought-provoking work that bridges history, culture and contemporary expression.
