The Hanged Munchkin
The Hanged Munchkin Wood, spray foam, wire, drywall, paint, rope, painted director's chair, fake flowers. Dimensions variable. 2012
This sculpture is based on the rumor that an actor playing a munchkin committed suicide on the set of 1939's The Wizard of Oz. The rumor gained traction in the 80's when the film was released on VHS. The rumor is based on the figure in the background of the Tim Man scene that is believed to be a munchkin hanging himself. The story goes that he was driven to despair over his unrequited love of a fellow munchkin actress. The figure is actually the silhouette of a bird, a number of which were on loan from the LA Zoo and roaming the set freely. The Hanged Munchkin is an example of a fan generated narrative being projected onto a film. It is a symbol of the non passive ways audiences consume and participate in narratives.
This sculpture installation also features a looped video of the scene from the Wizard of Oz that inspired the rumor. The work was installed at Highland Gardens Hotel in Hollywood as part of the stArtup Art Fair in 2016. The installation also included Robert Evans: 'King of the Mountain' 1966 – 1974 (2012) and two video works, Polanski's Baby (2013) and Barbra Streisand Portrait Bender, Las Vegas: Fear and Loathing Returns to the Flamingo (2014). This opportunity was made possible by the Torrance Art Museum and the Director Max Presneill. Thanks also to Pat Rios for assisting with the install and Maurizzio Hector Pineda.