Obsolescere: The Thing is Falling

Obsolescere: The Thing is Falling is a performance that captures objects at the moment their usefulness becomes uncertain. Drawn from the Latin obsolescere—“falling into disuse,” the idea that an object falls out of use over the course of time reveals that obsolescence is not a fixed point, but an active and fluctuating state.

Over the course of 25 minutes, a house cat, a Ford Taurus, seven fluorescent light bulbs, a goldfish, several cornstalks, the Encyclopedia Britannica, and a rusted portrait bust will speak about their conditions, narrating perspectives on utility, breakdown, and contradiction. This series of conversations addresses the condition of all objects, humans included, when they outlive their usefulness.

Anthony Marcellini is an artist and writer whose practice examines the social relationships of seemingly disparate objects, artworks, individuals, historical events, and natural phenomena. He is particularly interested in the moment of collapse or breakdown, specifically how our understanding of objects or events changes when they crash or lose their intended purpose. His work has been exhibited internationally at museums, galleries, and art institutions, including Galerie Michael Janssen, Singapore (2014); Witte De With, Rotterdam (2013, 2014); Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco (2013); The Gothenburg Konsthall (2013); and Wilkinson Gallery, London (2012-13), among others.

From 2000-2004 Marcellini co-founded and directed the collaborative art group It Can Change with John Hoppin, a collective that produced art, interventions, and performances in public spaces and art institutions.

He has participated in several biennials and festivals and has held residencies at the Valand Centre for Artistic Research, Gothenburg (2012) and the Sparwasser HQ residency program, Berlin (2010). His writing has been published in Paletten Art Journal, the web-based publication Nowiswere, and the online journal Art Practical.