In the fall of 1969, Acconci randomly selected and then followed individual passersby he encountered in New York City, maintaining his pursuit until the person entered a building. The process varied in length from a few minutes to several hours and took the artist around Manhattan and into Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, as shown in the work’s central map. Though this stalking was aggressive, by allowing a stranger to determine his route the artist gave up a certain degree of agency. He said, “I am almost not an ‘I’ anymore; I put myself in the service of this scheme.” A typescript lays out the terms of the “scheme,” and this photocollage documents several of the actions.

Gallery label from

A Trip from Here to There, March 15–July 30, 2013.

Medium Gelatin silver prints, felt-tip pen, and map on board
Dimensions Frame: 33 15/16 x 43 11/16 x 1 1/4" (86.2 x 111 x 3.1 cm) Image: 29 15/16 x 40 3/16" (76 x 102 cm)
Credit Partial gift of the Daled Collection and partial purchase through the generosity of Maja Oeri and Hans Bodenmann, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Agnes Gund, Marlene Hess and James D. Zirin, Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis, and Jerry I. Speyer and Katherine G. Farley
Object number 736.2011
Department Media and Performance

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