Catherine Opie’s first film, “The Modernist,”debuted at Regen Projects in 2018. MMA was invited to build a theatre for the viewing of the film.

The enclosed theatre, built inside the gallery’s central space, evoked the lines and curves of the modernist architecture portrayed in the film. The exterior mirrored surface dissolved the solidity of the structure while reflecting Opie’s photographs, which hung on the gallery walls. The design recalled hallmarks of many midcentury residences, such as simultaneity, transparency, and reflectivity.

The 22-minute film presents a dystopic view of Los Angeles, a city that has figured prominently in Opie’s work over the years. Composed of over 800 black and white still images, the film continues the dialogue of Chris Marker’s La Jetée. It employs similar formal and narrative structures, but focuses on a struggling artist who is obsessed with landmark midcentury modern architecture.

The exhibition was on view from January 12-February 17, 2018 and is now part of the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Images courtesy the artist and Regen Projects, Los Angeles; photography by Joshua White