Christian Marclay combines irreverent popular culture with an examination of human nature and emotion. Telephones brings together various clips of phones ringing and being answered in a logical narrative in which at times certain characters from disparate clips appear to be communicating with one another. The phone itself becomes the protagonist. Marclay chooses scenes with highly regarded actors such as Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Humphrey Bogart. Moments from films such as Mr. Mom (1983) and Sleepless in Seattle (1993) are also represented.

Featured: Still from Christian Marclay, Telephones, 1995. Video installation. 7 ½ mins. Gift of Suzanne Figi Latin American and Contemporary Art Fund. 2003.09