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Chris Burden’s Samson tries to destroy a museum from within

Last updated: April 16, 2025
Sculptures
Activist art, Art & Technology, Art & Vandalism, Art exhibitions, Artworks & exhibitions in Brazil, Centro de Arte Contemporânea Inhotim, Chris Burden's performances & exhibitions, Conceptual art, Everything else, Interactive art, Kinetic art, Museum exhibitions, Site-specific art
3 min read
Chris Burden – Samson, 1985, turnstile, winch, worm gear, leather strap, jack, timbers, steel, steel plates, dimensions variable, installation view, Centro de Arte Contemporânea Inhotim
1 Chris Burden – Samson, 1985, turnstile, winch, worm gear, leather strap, jack, timbers, steel, steel plates, dimensions variable, installation view, Zwirner & Wirth, New York, 2004
Address

Inhotim, R. B, 20, Brumadinho - MG, 32497-142, Brazil Copy to clipboard

-20.124148, -44.21935 Copy to clipboard

Apple Maps | Google Maps

Visit information
On view status

Samson is not on permanent display. It is stored within the institution’s collection and exhibited periodically. For the current exhibition status, visit Inhotim’s official website.

Accessibility Inhotim has varied terrain, including uneven ground and different floor types, which may pose challenges for wheelchair users or those with mobility issues. Some galleries and artworks also have limited accessibility due to their design.

Wheelchairs are available to borrow, and visitors with disabilities can request free internal transportation for themselves and one companion. This service must be scheduled 50 minutes in advance at the park's front desk.

The museum offers electric cart services along predetermined paths, which can greatly assist those with mobility challenges. Tickets cost BRL 38 and can be reserved online or at the front desk

Before you go

Clothing: Wear comfortable walking shoes, as Inhotim involves extensive walking. Bring a hat and sunscreen, especially during sunny days.

Dining options: Dining options are spread across the park, so you’ll never be far from a place to eat or take a break during your visit. These include the Tamboril Restaurant for high-quality meals, Café das Flores for snacks, and the Oiticica Restaurant for local flavors.

Nearby attractions: Explore other installations at Inhotim, including works by Yayoi Kusama and Olafur Eliasson.

Reservation needed: Entry tickets must be purchased in advance, especially during weekends and holidays. Reservations for inside transportation or private cart rentals can also be made online or at the front desk.

Supplies: Bring water and snacks, as options inside the park can be expensive and limited.

Visit duration: Plan to spend at least 4-6 hours at Inhotim to see the highlights, as the park spans 140 hectares (345 acres) with numerous artworks and gardens. To experience everything fully, allocate two full days; otherwise, expect to miss many installations.

Best visit time The best time to visit Inhotim is on weekdays in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and enjoy softer lighting for photos.

Plan for pleasant weather, as much of the complex is outdoors.

Avoid visiting during the rainy season, as many paths can become difficult to navigate.

Directions
From Belo Horizonte

By car: Drive via BR-381 or BR-040, passing through Piedade do Paraopeba or Topo do Mundo to reach Inhotim. Free parking is available near the entrance.

By transfer: Belvitur Transfer departs at 8 am from Holiday Inn, Rua Professor Moraes, nº 600 – Savassi, Belo Horizonte, and returns at 4:30 pm (Wednesday–Friday) or 5:30 pm (Saturday, Sunday, Holidays). Prices: BRL 110 round trip, BRL 55 one-way. Advance reservation is required via phone or website.

By bus: Cia Coordenadas Bus Lines departs at 8:15 am from Belo Horizonte Bus Station and returns at the same times as Belvitur. Prices: BRL 60.67 (one-way), BRL 53.80 (return). Tickets are available online or at the station.

From Brumadinho

By car: Inhotim is a 15-minute drive from the town center along MG-040.

By foot: Inhotim is located 2 kilometers from the town center, which takes about 25 minutes on foot.

General

Nearest station: The Brumadinho Bus Terminal is the closest transit hub. Visitors arriving there can take a taxi or walk 2 kilometers (about 25 minutes) to reach Inhotim.

+55 313571 9700 / Official site

    • 1.Introduction
    • 2.What is Samson?
    • 3.Samson’s Subtle Message
    • 4.Video: Chris Burden speaks about Samson
    • 5.Conclusion
    • 6.Chris Burden’s Art

Introduction

What do you think would happen if you connect a 100-ton jack to a turnstile and gearbox? In case you feel confused with all that, then you’re probably unfamiliar with Chris Burden’s 1 Samson. Burden (1946-2015) has managed to employ different items to create a stunning piece of artwork.

Apart from the items above, the rest include a winch, timber, leather strap, steel plates, steel, and worm gear. He has masterfully used all the elements to come up with a sculpture that continues to impress anyone who dares to look at it.

What is Samson?

Ideally, the question should be, “Who is Samson?” However, that question would be remiss when referring to the Samson that Chris Burden painstakingly created in 1985. Through this kinetic 2 installation 3, the jack pushes two massive timbers against the overbearing museum walls.

Furthermore, visitors are all able to view the exhibition. However, for this to happen, you would first need to pass through the turnstile. Theoretically, Burden wishes to use it to tease your mind by making you believe that Samson is capable of destroying the museum if more visitors arrive.

Chris Burden - Samson, 1985, turnstile, winch, worm gear, leather strap, jack, timbers, steel, steel plates, dimensions variable, installation view, Inhotim Museum, Brazil
2 Chris Burden – Samson, 1985, turnstile, winch, worm gear, leather strap, jack, timbers, steel, steel plates, dimensions variable, installation view, Centro de Arte Contemporânea Inhotim, photo: Eduardo Eckenfels

Samson’s Subtle Message

Typically, you may not think much about Samson at first. Mostly, your thoughts would revolve around the piece of technology 4 that allows it to move the way it does. However, Chris Burden isn’t your everyday apolitical artist.

Burden has built a solid reputation in the world of anti-authoritarian artists whose messages resonate with the masses. Based on that, you are definitely on the money to think or conclude that Samson carries a political meaning. The message is about resistance and pressure from the masses that bring the desired changes.

Chris Burden – Samson, 1985, turnstile, winch, worm gear, leather strap, jack, timbers, steel, steel plates, dimensions variable, installation view, Centro de Arte Contemporânea Inhotim
3 Chris Burden – Samson, 1985, turnstile, winch, worm gear, leather strap, jack, timbers, steel, steel plates, dimensions variable, installation view, Centro de Arte Contemporânea Inhotim, photo: Eduardo Eckenfels

Video: Chris Burden speaks about Samson

YouTube video
2 min 24 sec

Conclusion

As an artist known for challenging institutional power, Burden created this piece to suggest that with enough collective participation, the very structures containing art could be brought to the point of collapse 5 through the accumulated actions of museum visitors.

According to Burden, any building could be brought down. Here, the building refers to the museum in which the sculpture stands.

You may be wondering why he would be interested in destroying a museum, even on a theoretical basis. Well, he was part of a group of artists who always considered museums part of the establishment. Because of this, it’s easier to understand why he would wish to see the establishment collapsing into a heap.

Chris Burden - Samson, 1985, turnstile, winch, worm gear, leather strap, jack, timbers, steel, steel plates, dimensions variable, installation view, Inhotim Museum, Brazil
4 Chris Burden – Samson, 1985, turnstile, winch, worm gear, leather strap, jack, timbers, steel, steel plates, dimensions variable, installation view, Centro de Arte Contemporânea Inhotim, photo: Eduardo Eckenfels

Chris Burden’s Art

Lastly, in talking about Samson, one must also delve into the kind of art that Chris Burden practiced. Samson demonstrates his passion for Land Art 6. It’s also a perfect illustration of his Performance Art 7. Conceptual art 8 is something that Burden practiced as well.

He used them to add his voice to the issues of the day that were close to his heart. In the 1970s and 1980s, when Burden’s art was at its peak, topics such as antiwar student rebellions and the equal rights movement were quite popular.

Chris Burden – Samson, 1985, drawing
5 Chris Burden – Samson, 1985, drawing
Chris Burden – Samson, 1985, drawing
6 Chris Burden – Samson, 1985, drawing

All images: Chris Burden Estate unless otherwise noted.
More by Chris Burden

Citation

Footnotes

1. https://publicdelivery.org/tag/chris-burden/
2. https://publicdelivery.org/tag/kinetic/
3. https://publicdelivery.org/category/installation/
4. https://publicdelivery.org/tag/technology/
5. https://publicdelivery.org/tag/art-vandalism/
6. https://publicdelivery.org/tag/land-art/
7. https://publicdelivery.org/category/performance/
8. https://publicdelivery.org/tag/conceptual-art/
1. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Chris-Burden-–-Samson-1985-turnstile-winch-worm-gear-leather-strap-jack-timbers-steel-steel-plates-dimensions-variable-installation-view-Centro-de-Arte-Contemporanea-Inhotim–scaled.jpg ↩
2. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Chris-Burden-Samson-1985-turnstile-winch-worm-gear-leather-strap-jack-timbers-steel-steel-plates-dimensions-variable-installation-view-Inhotim-Museum-Brazil-1.jpg ↩
3. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Chris-Burden-–-Samson-1985-turnstile-winch-worm-gear-leather-strap-jack-timbers-steel-steel-plates-dimensions-variable-installation-view-Centro-de-Arte-Contemporanea-Inhotim-scaled.jpg ↩
4. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Chris-Burden-Samson-1985-turnstile-winch-worm-gear-leather-strap-jack-timbers-steel-steel-plates-dimensions-variable-installation-view-Inhotim-Museum-Brazil-1-2.jpg ↩
5. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Chris-Burden-–-Samson-1985-drawing-scaled.jpg ↩
6. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Chris-Burden-–-Samson-1985-drawing–scaled.jpg ↩
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Address

Inhotim, R. B, 20, Brumadinho - MG, 32497-142, Brazil Copy to clipboard

-20.124148, -44.21935 Copy to clipboard

Apple Maps | Google Maps

Visit information
On view status

Samson is not on permanent display. It is stored within the institution’s collection and exhibited periodically. For the current exhibition status, visit Inhotim’s official website.

Accessibility Inhotim has varied terrain, including uneven ground and different floor types, which may pose challenges for wheelchair users or those with mobility issues. Some galleries and artworks also have limited accessibility due to their design.

Wheelchairs are available to borrow, and visitors with disabilities can request free internal transportation for themselves and one companion. This service must be scheduled 50 minutes in advance at the park's front desk.

The museum offers electric cart services along predetermined paths, which can greatly assist those with mobility challenges. Tickets cost BRL 38 and can be reserved online or at the front desk

Before you go

Clothing: Wear comfortable walking shoes, as Inhotim involves extensive walking. Bring a hat and sunscreen, especially during sunny days.

Dining options: Dining options are spread across the park, so you’ll never be far from a place to eat or take a break during your visit. These include the Tamboril Restaurant for high-quality meals, Café das Flores for snacks, and the Oiticica Restaurant for local flavors.

Nearby attractions: Explore other installations at Inhotim, including works by Yayoi Kusama and Olafur Eliasson.

Reservation needed: Entry tickets must be purchased in advance, especially during weekends and holidays. Reservations for inside transportation or private cart rentals can also be made online or at the front desk.

Supplies: Bring water and snacks, as options inside the park can be expensive and limited.

Visit duration: Plan to spend at least 4-6 hours at Inhotim to see the highlights, as the park spans 140 hectares (345 acres) with numerous artworks and gardens. To experience everything fully, allocate two full days; otherwise, expect to miss many installations.

Best visit time The best time to visit Inhotim is on weekdays in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and enjoy softer lighting for photos.

Plan for pleasant weather, as much of the complex is outdoors.

Avoid visiting during the rainy season, as many paths can become difficult to navigate.

Directions
From Belo Horizonte

By car: Drive via BR-381 or BR-040, passing through Piedade do Paraopeba or Topo do Mundo to reach Inhotim. Free parking is available near the entrance.

By transfer: Belvitur Transfer departs at 8 am from Holiday Inn, Rua Professor Moraes, nº 600 – Savassi, Belo Horizonte, and returns at 4:30 pm (Wednesday–Friday) or 5:30 pm (Saturday, Sunday, Holidays). Prices: BRL 110 round trip, BRL 55 one-way. Advance reservation is required via phone or website.

By bus: Cia Coordenadas Bus Lines departs at 8:15 am from Belo Horizonte Bus Station and returns at the same times as Belvitur. Prices: BRL 60.67 (one-way), BRL 53.80 (return). Tickets are available online or at the station.

From Brumadinho

By car: Inhotim is a 15-minute drive from the town center along MG-040.

By foot: Inhotim is located 2 kilometers from the town center, which takes about 25 minutes on foot.

General

Nearest station: The Brumadinho Bus Terminal is the closest transit hub. Visitors arriving there can take a taxi or walk 2 kilometers (about 25 minutes) to reach Inhotim.

+55 313571 9700 / Official site

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