THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

It seems to be a spirit of perverse individualism that leads Tinguely’s machines to break down at critical moments, leap from their pedestals, and dash themselves against the floor, or otherwise perform in a manner different from what Tinguely had in mind – the most spectacular example being the enormous self-destroying construction called Homage to New York, which refused to commit suicide in the garden of the Museum of Modern Art in1960.  Although Homage failed to destroy itself completely, it managed nevertheless to execute a great many wholly unexpected and startling feats before the Fire Department closed in with extinguishers and axes to finish the job. 

Tomkins/Bride