Tim LeeSteve Martin, 1972 2004

The artist is shown playing a banjo and wearing a joke shop arrow on his head. The image is a direct reference to the early stand-up persona of American comedian Steve Martin. Martin’s zany, absurdist humour led to his massive success on television and film in the 1970s. Lee has expressed his interest in Martin, relating the actor’s early physical performances to the work of artists such as Bruce Nauman who were making performance or action-based works during the same period.