fbpx
Peter Fischli
David Weiss
Büsi (Kitty), 2001

One of the most enduring and endearing aspects of the work of Swiss artists Peter Fischli and David Weiss is how it exhibits their fondness for everyday things.

The video Büsi (Kitty) features a close-up of a cat lapping milk in a domestic environment. It was originally exhibited on an oversized video screen in New York’s Times Square as part of a public art program, The 59th Minute: Video Art on the Times Square Astrovision. Given that this public space is usually reserved for slick commercials and news programming, it was an incongruous setting for a video of a cat deciding to pause for something to drink.

While the lush, high-definition quality of the Büsi video suggests a commercial for a pet product, the lack of a soundtrack, deliberate overexposure, and slapdash framing give the work the look of an amateur video of a family pet. By simply changing the frame of reference, by restaging the commonplace within the landscape of art and/or commerce, Fischli and Weiss make the ordinary seem extraordinary.

Artwork Info

Artwork title
Büsi (Kitty)
Artist names
Peter FischliDavid Weiss
Date created
2001
Classification
video installation
Medium
single-channel video projection, color, silent, 6:30 min.
Dimensions
dimensions variable
Date acquired
2001
Credit
Collection SFMOMA
Accessions Committee Fund purchase: gift of Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein, the Modern Art Council, Mimi and Peter Haas, Elaine McKeon, and Judy and John Webb
Copyright
© Peter Fischli and David Weiss
Permanent URL
https://www.sfmoma.org/artwork/2001.300
Artwork status
Not on view at this time.

Other Works by Peter Fischli and David Weiss, Peter Fischli, and David Weiss

Please note that artwork locations are subject to change, and not all works are on view at all times. If you are planning a visit to SFMOMA to see a specific work of art, we suggest you contact us at collections@sfmoma.org to confirm it will be on view.

Only a portion of SFMOMA's collection is currently online, and the information presented here is subject to revision. Please contact us at collections@sfmoma.org to verify collection holdings and artwork information. If you are interested in receiving a high resolution image of an artwork for educational, scholarly, or publication purposes, please contact us at copyright@sfmoma.org.

This resource is for educational use and its contents may not be reproduced without permission. Please review our Terms of Use for more information.