Domestic Abstraction

Tony Oursler's "Domestic Abstraction" from 1987 is a fascinating example of his early installation work, where he began to experiment with moving images beyond traditional video monitors. While Oursler is perhaps best known for his later video projections onto sculptural forms and public spaces, this piece, crafted from hide and a painted wood frame, offers a glimpse into his foundational interests in material, form, and perhaps the uncanny. Oursler, who studied with influential artists like John Baldessari and Laurie Anderson at CalArts, often explores themes that blur the lines between technology, the psychological, and the everyday. In the late 1980s, around the time of this work, he was also creating fractured-narrative videotapes and immersive dark-room environments, suggesting a broader engagement with how media and materiality shape perception. "Domestic Abstraction" hints at the tactile and sculptural elements that would remain crucial even as his work evolved into large-scale video installations, positioning this piece as an important stepping stone in his distinctive artistic journey.