Ma Bell
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Paul McCarthy’s Ma Bell (1971/1972) is an early, visceral performance video featuring the artist in a room filled with black motor oil and telephone books. It is a "Black & White Tape" where McCarthy uses the oil as paint to cover a telephone book, involving a shift from controlled, conceptual action to a chaotic, "insane" persona. The piece represents his early exploration of using his body, food, and industrial liquids to create transgressive, psychological performances.
Paul McCarthy directed Ma Bell. Explore their complete filmography and the collaborators who shaped their vision.
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