Guards

Two men from the Art Institute of Chicago’s security team explain the facility’s safety arrangements, offering practical demonstrations of how they would fend off criminals and would-be attackers. They also recall memorable deployments from before their time at the museum. Drawing a connection between national security concerns and the protection of cultural assets, Steyerl’s video was shot in an upright format to mimic the aesthetic of ego-shooter videogames. In the footage, the scene of the presentation of art is filled with an atmosphere of ever-present danger.