Laurie Anderson

Heart of a Dog

Film, 75’, 2015

Heart of a Dog began as a film commissioned by the Franco-German public television station Arte, as part of a series featuring artists talking about the meaning of life and work. Centring on Anderson’s beloved rat terrier Lolabelle, who died in 2011, Heart of the Dog is a personal essay that weaves together childhood memories; video diaries; philosophical musings on data collection, surveillance culture and the Buddhist conception of the afterlife; and heartfelt tributes to the artists, writers, musicians and thinkers who inspire her. Fusing her own witty, inquisitive narration with original violin compositions, hand-drawn animation, 8 mm movies and artwork culled from exhibitions past and present, Anderson creates a hypnotic, collage-like visual language out of the raw materials of her life and art, examining how stories are constructed and told—and how we use them to make sense of our lives. 

Artist's bio

The New York-based artist Laurie Anderson (b. 1947, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA) is one of America’s most renowned and daring creative pioneers. She is best known for her multimedia presentations and innovative use of technology. As a writer, director, visual artist and vocalist she has created ground-breaking works that span the worlds of art, theatre and music. Anderson’s live shows range from simple spoken word performances to elaborate multi-media stage works. She has published seven books and her visual work has been presented in major museums around the world. In 2010 a retrospective of Anderson’s visual and installation work opened in São Paulo, Brazil and later travelled to Rio de Janeiro.