Can't Help Myself, Guggenheim Museum

By Sun Yuan and Peng Yu. Part of the Tales of our Time exhibit. www.guggenheim...
In this work commissioned for the Guggenheim Museum, Sun Yuan & Peng Yu employ an industrial robot, visual-recognition sensors, and software systems to examine our increasingly automated global reality, one in which territories are controlled mechanically and the relationship between people and machines is rapidly changing. Placed behind clear acrylic walls, their robot has one specific duty, to contain a viscous, deep-red liquid within a predetermined area. When the sensors detect that the fluid has strayed too far, the arm frenetically shovels it back into place, leaving smudges on the ground and splashes on the surrounding walls.
The idea to use a robot came from the artists’ initial wish to test what could possibly replace an artist’s will in making a work and how could they do so with a machine. They modified a robotic arm, one often seen on production lines such as those in car manufacturing, by installing a custom-designed shovel to its front. Collaborating with two robotics engineers, Sun Yuan & Peng Yu designed a series of thirty-two movements for machine to perform. Their names for these movements, such as “scratch an itch,” “bow and shake,” and “ass shake,” reflect the artists’ intention to animate a machine. Observed from the cage-like acrylic partitions that isolate it in the gallery space, the machine seems to acquire consciousness and metamorphose into a life-form that has been captured and confined in the space. At the same time, for viewers the potentially eerie satisfaction of watching the robot’s continuous action elicits a sense of voyeurism and excitement, as opposed to thrills or suspense. In this case, who is more vulnerable: the human who built the machine or the machine who is controlled by a human?
Sun Yuan & Peng Yu are known for using dark humor to address contentious topics, and the robot’s endless, repetitive dance presents an absurd, Sisyphean view of contemporary issues surrounding migration and sovereignty. However, the bloodstain-like marks that accumulate around it evoke the violence that results from surveilling and guarding border zones. Such visceral associations call attention to the consequences of authoritarianism guided by certain political agendas that seek to draw more borders between places and cultures and to the increasing use of technology to monitor our environment.
Xiaoyu Weng

[@legoratofficial6989]

It's so slow. But it continues how it always has. It spins and dances for the viewer as it gets slower and weaker, letting the oil seep further and further than before. It really tugs on your heart strings, this machine. Lol

[@rachelarriaga2264]

It died... but right before it dies for a few days. It stopped dancing It just frantically kept trying to keep thr fluid inside.

[@legoratofficial6989]

@@rachelarriaga2264 Fuck man. Thanks for the heart shattering info. Seriously though, thanks. Kinda makes me feel a bit better knowing it died.

[@rachelarriaga2264]

@@legoratofficial6989 I mean the artist did a good job lolol it made us feel for an 8natimstr object lol sorry about the trauma bro lolol

[@ilistentotoomuchasmr3320]

@@rachelarriaga2264 was there a video of it?

[@Cracker1543]

Just imagine bleeding and having to clean that up untill you die.

[@Bestmercymain]

When it was first released to the public it was clean and bright. Now, it’s dark and gloomy. All dirty

[@cloidre36]

it shut down

[@mxddeimxddei540]

@@cloidre36 why

[@depression7887]

@@mxddeimxddei540 Covid

[@matilda.anne06]

@@depression7887 no it shut down in November 2019 long before covid. it just died

[@MrJMUZIO]

It was part of the art concept behind that.

[@itsvera2479]

i think the concept of it is that the robot has to work for years and years and never gets a chance to actually relax. that’s why it’s called “Can’t Help Myself,” the metal noises I believe is supposed to be yelling from stress. And the stuff the machine is cleaning up is it’s own blood.

[@Stegolution]

It is supposed to represent a sort of emotion what that emotion is? i think that is what people think it is because everyone feels different about it, not the creators and not the robot itself (obviously)

[@anderson.m.kraggs9855]

I wouldnt trust anyone with a roblox avatar as a pfp

[@itsvera2479]

@@anderson.m.kraggs9855 I wouldn’t trust anyone with the name Anderson?

[@anderson.m.kraggs9855]

That literally makes no sense bc i have the name anderson that just sounds stupid

[@anderson.m.kraggs9855]

So ill say if your names sara your probably stupid?

[@crowsbash]

its rusted metal now sounds like screaming.

[@trevors1]

It’s not even working anymore. It stopped in 2019

[@patrickmuller5223]

This is no rustyetal, i higly doubt they use tjis for so am robot, but this is the sound of the gears and servos

[@Es-mv2mk]

It also sounded like that when it was nev

[@sneil7879]

cap

[@nightsun152]

Especially at 0:39

[@austinkreller4336]

This piece also represents the working class holding them selves together and still getting the job done till the day they die

[@A_very_tinly_can]

Blue collar for life

[@MrsWikkka]

Even white color

[@brianjohnson6053]

​@@MrsWikkkadont even

[@kajalchoudhary9886]

I used to not understand this art at first but as I grew up to know it's so hurtful and painful to watch

[@itsburntpotato667]

When the robotic arm came close to the camera it was like asking for help

[@user-chelharoooosh]

It looks like its wondering "Why are guys watching me suffer?"

[@ka3des]

It’s been going for so long the walls and blood are deep red, almost a dark brown :(

[@alreem-alm]

Can u pls explain what this is

[@fox15yamaha]

@@alreem-alm it’s just a project put together by two dude to show of AI capabilities

[@jumpingjuny]

@@fox15yamaha no its a piece of art made to convey a message. "no matter how long you try it doesnt go away" or how it gets more and more tired and dirty

[@arn.2604]

it’s not blood it’s hydraulic fluid

[@ka3des]

@@arn.2604 yeah I know realize that

[@Gianni37]

why i fell sad for a robotic arm

[@Juliette606]

It's been like 5 ears it looks soo tired

[@RXD980]

Me too

[@brocker248]

Cuz your soft

[@kduzzit]

@@brocker248 troll

[@rachelarriaga2264]

Because you're supposed to

[@Flamekin_megaflare]

When it waves around like that it looks like it lashes out in a rage and tries to kill its creator for programming it into an endless cycle of pain and suffering… it’s own hell…

[@dkchariot2716]

It's not an ai . Just a simple machine designed to do its work and It hurts me to see it like that

[@Flamekin_megaflare]

@@dkchariot2716 I feel the same way… humans naturally feel bad for anything that appears to be suffering… it shows how people truly care for things even if it’s just a robot…

[@flappybird9327]

I thought it was trying to dance for the people watching it

[@b.2852]

Why this makes me wanna cry? :c

[@Galat3ia]

That's how some art will make you feel :((

[@ricobalboa5288]

Becausd its good art

[@vemes4605]

I can't stop thinking about it everytime the arm goes up, I hear the scream from "it's wednesday.. my dudes"

[@Berry_Parfait]

HOW?! 😂

[@Cheeseoogus_]

its so sad how it started off seeming really happy and joyful and now its just...

[@fitgrandma7673]

I love this art peace it reminds me of all the people who work hard but nobody sees them and it reminds me of me sometimes too

[@nashdrifter3629]

Somehow representative of the time we find ourselves in. People standing around filming with their cameras as something dies....

[@Zoeishere-p4g]

**I feels like I want to hug the robot**

[@Zoeishere-p4g]

"Why............ "

[@mishel5101]

he will sweep you

[@Zoeishere-p4g]

@@mishel5101 wait wha-, what do u mean?.......

[@evil_breadthedemon6226]

At first the robot hand looks so excited to clean and it's all clean and good now it's so slow it looks tired and it's so dirty and the blood are becoming dark red and the robot has rust now:((

[@kaytoncapalbo8907]

So let me tell you about this artwork by I can’t help myself so it describes tiredness pain Anxiety and overwhelm mean The way it’s cleaning again and again the oil it’s making it rusty and also make a noise of screaming out of tiredness :0

[@OhPhuckYou]

Oil literally is a corrosion prohibitor. Oil won't cause anything to rust. Oil can attract dirt and cake up, but unless it's highly contaminated with water or acidic elements it will not do anything but prevent rust.

[@ethanibarra9021]

This makes me feel sad

[@realheloukiti]

@Friendly Henry its some red liquid its like you can pretend its blood

[@sofiag.r.542]

@Friendly Henry Nope, but it's a red liquid made to look like blood actually, complementing the meaning of the artwork, it's a very sad thing

[@crayak19]

To me the machine looks happy and the movements are beautiful but it keeps going back to that red pool and because it does, it's tainted every place it goes. At first it didn't really affect it and the mess was small but now you can see the patterns of it's addiction and the mess it makes and no matter how dark its environment becomes it can't help but going back to that pool💔

[@bree167]

It’s so dirty now :(

[@kylez990]

Imagine now, though. Sure it's dirty, but it's obvious the blood is lessening. And keep in mind this was posted *4 years ago.* It's probably worse.

[@Feemailgamer]

@@kylez990 dirtier and slower

[@lucidjelly3465]

@@kylez990 ya now it’s really slow

[@Leafyviv]

@@lucidjelly3465 the only vid I’ve seen of it “now” is from 2019..

[@jamesvb420]

@Xaia Matney I believe it 'died' in may 2019, I've been trying to find a video close to that but I haven't seen anything yet

[@nidis777]

Esto es triste, es cómo si mediante el ruido que hace pidiera ayuda desesperadamente por no poder el solo mientras que todos solo observan. :^(

[@najmffs1821]

How can i marry an art work

[@weeaboo6195]

i like how the bot just waved a little in the beginning, at least thats how i see it

[@AionMc_]

it's so sad

[@Annanimy]

This is from the guy saiyanx. It'll would be cool if lasers made the sensor piick up the dirt red liquid sounds cool but the arm feel less human.. htgg.. awesome invention.

[@anyaarmock4629]

I want to see it stopping but I can’t find anything on it idk if people were recording at that time

[@IDKLOLLL-oy7yo]

Wow… that woman just said it was satisfying… I am dying on the inside right now just watching this…

[@abrezall]

What is that black liquid? lubricant oil?

[@chalaeholets8539]

It originally was supposed to look like blood

[@connorexester8797]

Hydraulic fluid

[@Lightblue2222]

Is there footage of its last scoop?

[@jemcejxsijwcidkcjmsnjsxjfe6713]

I don't know, so far I haven't seen the official clip where the robot "dies".

[@_mikakina3979]

This makes me feel tiredness and that the robot just wanna stop ans give up

[@leonelmoreno8778]

Así nos apuñalará un robot en el futuro. El brazo mecánico simula puñaladas, mata sin cesar. Maravilloso.

[@nicolasbourbaki4374]

I don’t wanna live. Why can’t I help myself. Every time I try it fails so badly and every one sees that.

[@cinnabariaa]

Uh... this isnt a place to vent?

[@umiliq]

tiktok type

[@Tqolad1]

@@cinnabariaa this is a quote from a Lana del Rey song that is currently being used on Tik Tok to highlight pieces of art that have had a powerful and profound effect on people. It’s a way of introducing art works to people who may not have come across it before. This person was quoting it to show they had found this art work through this song

[@cinnabariaa]

@@Tqolad1 which song?

[@Tqolad1]

@@cinnabariaa it’s called Dealer by Lana Del Rey :)

[@professionallytired]

When it was built it used to love cleaning but untill 2018 it got so messy that they never cleaned it so thats why it is so slow people say "omg it just a robot" "its not real so it never has feeling" "stop being over dramatic" sure its a robot but robots do have feelings they just cant show/express them

[@rice8965]

What? This robot's programming is simple as an automatic door, so automatic doors have feelings too?

[@flappybird9327]

Why are people telling others to stop being dramatic when the robot is supposed to make people who view it feel empathy?

[@graveyardmonarch1629]

I do really wish this piece died out organically instead of being unplugged. I feel that its deterioration was a huge part of the piece and how it relates to life and death.

[@bipolarmfs]

I wanna hug her so bad

[@BlazedOnYoutube]

You're gendering a robot? 💀

[@omarvalles1371]

This is the saddest thing I’ve ever seen

[@kategodfrey910]

Its literally begging for help. So confused and frustrated. It almost feels like you’re watching it cry, yknow?

[@MrsWikkka]

It seems cruel. But sometimes I feel that those who placed us here are very cruel too. The universe could be so beautiful..

[@aimee-leighcairney7907]

The metal literally sounds like it’s screaming “Heeeeelp!!”

[@onemn150]

my view of this is that it’s about the struggles of someone going through self harm and suicidal thoughts. especially with the title “can’t/couldn’t help myself.” almost endlessly, you do this s/h over and over again, and the thoughts get worse, you go through relapsing, etc. that’s what i see the sweeping as. someone cutting themselves or hurting themselves in some way, until, finally, they put themselves out of their misery by committing suicide.

[@yournightmare3448]

I really want to help this machine out. You cruel people.

[@Kai69690]

Is that its oil so it dosent die?

[@PinestheKiller]

It’s supposed to represent blood, the machine has sadly “died” in 2019 though

[@xqre5024]

I hope this machine will have rest soon The robot look like is sick and tired and Jsur wants to be a normal robot But It can't because The robot Has to Clean up the stupid Blood :(

[@tonyalcala7569]

It's actually its own fluid keeps leaking

[@deebib]

Can someone explain? I don't really understand this machine...what is it suppose to represent?

[@xx_coco_gacha_xx2482]

Well basically the robot has to scoop the red luiqid in to survive if it stops it will die even though it is realy tired and wants to stop that’s why it is called ‘can’t help myself’

[@deebib]

@@xx_coco_gacha_xx2482 oh my... The robot was alive?

[@xx_coco_gacha_xx2482]

@@deebib well metaphorachly yeah I mean not literally

[@brocker248]

@@xx_coco_gacha_xx2482 why someone be sad about this tho?I understand the concept but it's weird everyone sad about a robot and + it's not an A.I, it's just an censor that swipes

[@ondinaskye7773]

Helplessness

[@ShinnyTovs]

its like its asking for help.

[@sillyproottoaster]

if there is ever a robot uprising, this will be why

[@leiahbarraza1893]

And the squeaks is kind of sounds like screaming like people are screaming, but it sounds really sad that the name is Khalid I can’t help myself it’s so sad because it’s keep on working and working forever and ever but when the streets are clean up the blood and stuff like that, it’s just sounds like it’s screaming and it’s sad😢

[@grandmablobby]

Bro it looks like it’s trying to get help when it waves as it temporarily keeps itself together

[@Random_kidtnr7]

feels like someone cant hold his felling

[@M_kaye0_0]

This is robot only but I feel sad because she look soo tired :'(

[@zo.yeahhh]

He just like me fr fr

[@gachaflix6655]

It sounds like its screaming for help

[@KrumbCrackhead]

What if the blood is maple syurp with red food coloring? 🤔

[@AiRKING0080]

I wanna see it

[@fluffkitten]

Is it really that deep

[@miagabrielaherrerarodrigue6073]

Ma cos’è?

[@julius6687]

un opera d'arte. un robot che cerca di rimettersi apposto, raccogliendo quel suo sangue che continua a perdere, ma non riuscendoci mai. è molto triste. una metafora per qualcuno che soffre, cerca di rimediare disperatamente da solo, ma non ci riesce. mai. una tortura infinita :c

[@justarandomguywithoutabear7234]

Reminds me of WALL E for some reason

[@Darcy_Waters]

Help him!!! 😢

[@Lian-yt7vp]

the robot looks like in bad pain

[@bigboybarbie1011]

the oil now be looking like blood

[@Gerdosyk]

this is oil

[@elenagalkov9726]

The robot is trying to clean the blood of humankind after Apocalypses :(

[@rozaiddawood7442]

It is s treandy on tiktok i fell dad

[@fearlished6711]

The owners shod CLEAN HIS FUCKING ROOM AND GIVE IT A BATH!

[@leiahbarraza1893]

It’s sad because that I can’t help myself. Can’t even get relaxed at all it just cleans up every day of the blood and that’s not fair like whoever made this and they did it. Do you work all day and after years and after years that is so sad I’m crying because he can’t get relaxed or anything. It’s just hard to clean up and clean up and clean up just for the blood to stop going everywhere. So when I get older i’m gonna go to See I can’t help myself and I will take pictures of it. Is it to my mom and I want to know what is it and how they haven’t been relaxing😢

[@canadian..chaser]

It rusted so much that if you tried to fix it it wouldn’t help one t8me it even got stuck but it fixed itself

[@adrianusk1669]

Rip ?

[@jeffy8847]

What does this thing do

[@Cake2019_6]

This robot arm is an art piece, it's purpose was to hold the red liquid in it's near, in it's first year it was often waving around when people walked by, in it's second year it was obvious a bit weaker but in it's third year it was like it was in this video, just the shell of what it once was

[@hikari4618]

It’s tired bro.

[@stefanymattos7580]

bizarro

[@lie2_me_272]

Zweckloskunst

[@user-mm3mb3tc2m]

Isn’t this supposed to represent people trying to fix problems but just makes a bigger mess?

[@yuhkay1938]

I hink I represents how people always bleed or are upset nad hey try to stop it, but get more and more upset while trying to keep it in, but it just won’t go back so you end up getting more Sade bc it won’t go away

[@Shadowmanhaden]

Poor thing 😭😭😭😭

[@giannagonzalez9321]

yo

[@archive4389]

yall edgelords need to chill lol its a machine

[@missnayy]

Its mad

[@Jazminbeansxslvt]

It was so clean when it first came out to the public but now it's all dirt and rusty

[@missnayy]

@@Jazminbeansxslvt yup

[@tyler6606]

I don't personally see it as anger, simply lashing out in defeat. It acts so human in the way that it seems to mentally breakdown.

[@missnayy]

@@tyler6606 oh thank u i didnt know that.

[@Jtijerina88]

The mess does not clean up it stays and it does nothing but stay in a room with everybody watching and as is slowly dies. It’s so poor it has nothing to do but do the same thing over and over again and it has to clean itself this robot need help.

[@bacongirl7960]

OMGhahalookdanc

[@saimonasstefanski4063]

This emits a lot of bad feelings

[@Thorneboy2006]

apparently this art piece is a political message but i dont really see it

[@fox15yamaha]

You guys realize this raw materials and a code full of 0s and 1s to perform tasks. There’s no emotion whatsoever. That’s the idea of AI. That’s why it’s used heavily in automotive plants.

[@MinishCap]

However, this is an art piece, you are supposed to interpret it as something other than "a lifeless robot". It's in agony. It's frustrated, it's tired.

[@K1NG7OX1C]

It's not even AI, but you are right, no emotions, nothing more than 0s and 1s

[@TheCorruptedGhost]

I agree. And most of everyone's opinions are influenced by the ones people captioned this piece with already. I don't have any sad feelings about it. All I see is a machine, doing a task it was programmed to do.

[@Jazminbeansxslvt]

@@TheCorruptedGhost it never got to complete the task and it sad bc it was built to fail in life

[@rockinghorselady]

Art gains meaning through the eyes of the beholder The idea that a simple machine programmed to fulfill this task can be humanized in the eyes of people and be related to was the very idea of this project