Have you ever been to a city, like Los Angeles, where traffic is a nightmare, it’s noisy, sirens blaring, and all you want is to go home?

That’s the foundation for Chris Burden’s Metropolis II, except the feeling is the exact opposite – you don’t want to go home!  You want to stay and enjoy this wonderful experience.

Metropolis II, at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), is a city of miniature cars, trains, and skyscrapers.  Most of the time, it stands silent, dormant.  

But several times during the day, the cars are turned on, the trains start to run, and you see this city come to life.  

The cars are carried up a ramp on either side of the city. Once at the top, they speed down and around throughout the city.

A bright, blue passenger train carries imaginary passengers throughout.  A freight train meanders to its destination.  

As a viewer, you’re free to walk around the entire exhibit, experiencing it from all sides.

Take the stairs to a balcony, so you can see the busy metropolis from a god’s-eye-view. 

This sculpture debuted at LACMA 10 years ago this month, in January 2012.

Artist, Chris Burden, said he was inspired by Fritz Lang’s 1927 film, Metropolis, and it took him 4 years to construct.  

It was worth it!  It’s absolutely enchanting to watch.  

Chris Burden is most well known for creating one of the most instagrammable places in LA, Urban Light, open 24 hours outside of LACMA.  

He said that sculpture represents what a sophisticated society should look like, “…safe after dark and beautiful to behold.”

This sculpture is quite different, but strongly rooted in a city influence.  Of this sculpture, the artist said, “I want to evoke the energy of a city, and the sound is a really important part of it.”

And that’s true, because it’s noisy!!  Very noisy!!  Just listen to these video clips I included. But soooo much fun to watch!

All of the structures are of imaginary buildings, with the exception of one.  Viagra Tower looks very much like the Eiffel Tower.

There’s a church, and an onion domed structure, lots of futuristic looking skyscrapers.  Some of the buildings have mirrors in place of windows, so as you traverse the perimeter, you see yourself reflected back in the art.  

Want to see Metropolis II at its finest?   When it’s running and noisy?  Of course, you do!

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
12-12:30pm, 1-1:30pm, 2-2:30pm, 3-3:30pm, 4-4:30pm

Friday
12-12:30pm, 1-1:30pm, 2-2:30pm, 3-3:30pm, 4-4:30pm, 5-5:30pm

Saturday, Sunday
11-11:30am, 12-12:30pm, 1-1:30pm, 2-2:30pm, 3-3:30pm, 4-4:30pm, 5-5:30pm