Sun Yuan and Peng Yu: Can’t Help Myself

[@AB-gh5be]

i feel like crying can someone please help this poor robot

[@BoomKatz]

shut up its a robot oh my god

[@softsounds8453]

@@BoomKatz Mind your business dude. No one asked for your shitty opinion. EDIT 11/14/2021 - I don't know why the fuck this comment is suddenly getting attention after a year but I'm tired of seeing this in my notifications. I no longer know the context of this comment. I no longer know the context of this video. I am not going to learn it all over again just to bitch with you. If there's another reply I made somewhere in this mess of a comment section then I don't know what it is! And I don't care to find it! Stop clogging my notifications with this shit. Thank you.

[@TheHellmo]

Soft Sounds damn straight

[@biggycheese6575]

mech he can’t possibly be serious when he says it makes him want to cry, though.

[@jamesbizs]

Kate Yara its called anthropomorphizing and putting emotions where emotions don’t belong

[@marklll4426]

It looks like a person bleeding out but they're still trying to prevent themselves from bleeding more. It looks absolutely painful and it's quite relatable in a way.

[@plasba]

no because this is so true :(

[@wzz553]

Your sentence just gave me so much inspiration, idk if u will see this but thanks you so much

[@barf_lord_9399]

Are you okay?

[@tobubiify]

@@barf_lord_9399 no one is

[@stevenhogg2751]

Ur a loonie tune relatable ha

[@lonesplashy5310]

The noises, he frantic movements. It looks like panic, it SOUNDS like panic. It’s constantly stressing itself over something it cannot do, much like the rest of us

[@wikkedcurves]

they torture animals

[@bogmummies24]

the robots? tf? are u just being racist or???

[@anh-linh5955]

@@wikkedcurves literally stfu and go do something w ur life

[@Toby-qo3tx]

@@anh-linh5955 just incase you didn’t know they are on about a art piece the artists did where they get two rows of dogs on four treadmills that they designed and manufactured within a gallery space. They arranged the dogs face-to-face, half a meter apart so that they could never touch.

[@Toby-qo3tx]

@@bogmummies24 they are on about a art piece the artists did where they get two rows of dogs on four treadmills that they designed and manufactured within a gallery space. They arranged the dogs face-to-face, half a meter apart so that they could never touch.

[@NeoNovastar]

So this piece genuinely stresses me out, scares me even. It holds a special place in my heart, but it also deeply speaks to something in me that I dread. The aimless panic it portrays, its compulsion to set something right it will never be able to... man its just like panic attacks and ocd, which i deal with. It's that feeling. I can't help myself... not alone, at least.

[@minkwitch4422]

You are definetly not alone.

[@pogpogpurinn]

I suffer from the same things, i feel the exact same about this piece, it oddly hits home

[@bungojerry9297]

O my god that's so deep

[@brandongavinet4651]

My god it's a fucking robot why are people so deep 😂

[@Scriblyn]

@@brandongavinet4651 It's art it's meant to convey those emotions 😂 stop making fun of people

[@user-ms4zr8tx5x]

Why does this feel wrong to subject a lifeless piece of metal to this

[@wikkedcurves]

should see what these sick fucks do to dogs

[@sweetteainthesummer8182]

@@wikkedcurves literally what is the point of your comment???

[@seeeekers]

@@wikkedcurves Why did you feel the need to say that...

[@radpilled]

@@wikkedcurves we should that to you

[@FTMothman]

@@wikkedcurves wow blatant racism, on a video about an art piece.

[@wolfilon244]

The mechanical screeching almost sounds like screams, and the movements it makes feel panicked. This is an absolutely stunning piece of art

[@seeeekers]

@@wikkedcurves what...

[@iguanzie5378]

@@wikkedcurves shut the hell up

[@juicebox-]

@@wikkedcurves you gonna give context or??

[@slampey]

@@jiyeoniepoo they’re referencing the piece “dogs that cannot touch each other,” another piece by Yuan and Yu commissioned by the Guggenheim in which 8 live dogs are chained to inclined high-speed treadmills in the museum

[@wikkedcurves]

@Kenzie Sickafoose do some research with your ignorant self

[@TenApplesforTime]

i feel like this is a great general representation of human anxiety/panic. no matter what its over, everyones been in that place where youre trying to fix something but because youre panicking and incapable of rational thought it just gets worse which causes you to panic even more and etc etc

[@davibergamin5943]

a great representation of the people in today's days

[@dawg1510]

the people watching are the people in your life. No matter how hard they try they cant help you. Its up to you to accept help

[@babelKONI]

Really? I thought he was just vibing lmao, it looks like it’s just casually oiling itself, pausing to think about something, then oiling some more.

[@the_wretched]

All while society looks on like dumbstruck jerks, camera phone at the ready.

[@ashsoro1039]

Woah that's deep. In reality it's loud because the motor is loud, and the artist didn't want to actually paint.

[@ProphetofGermaine]

Funny how an object that’s not alive or sentient can be programmed to work in such a way that it evokes emotions in us. Obviously it’s not actually stressed or undergoing pain like an animal in a cage; but it’s entire design is to evoke that emotion of a stressed and struggling work animal in distress. I think it’s really genius how he managed to capture that emotion from us.

[@DisKorruptd]

It's not even that it was programmed to work in a way to evoke emotion. We as humans simply pack bond with literally anything. A roomba will bump into 2 walls and we will show it affection.

[@BrandiTheSnowQueen]

you know the robot in this piece actually killed itself by short circuiting? makes my heart heavy

[@MrMeister03]

@@BrandiTheSnowQueenNo it didn’t lol. The creators decided to unplug the machine in 2019. It was just wore out and became noticeably slower.

[@3.dmentional]

It was named “Cant Help Myself”, but 2 years ago when it died, it was renamed “Couldn’t Help Myself.”

[@wtfmel]

DAMN.

[@gatitosanchez7788]

That just make it more depressing

[@lalaskii7814]

@Caboose The Goose the machine to be exact, yes in 2019

[@wolf._.furry6663]

WHY YOU MAKING ME CRY T^T

[@V1nn1eH]

God damn that's fucking sad

[@PortiaMonique]

It’s baffling how humans can recognize the stress in this art piece, but refuse to recognize the distress and sorrow in their fellow human being.

[@phoneyogurt]

pity is easier than empathy, in a way. it hurts a human being to relate to another human being in pain because they know exactly how it feels. to a human, feeling bad for a robot is a lot easier because we don’t feel the empathy, or the pain, the same way

[@marumisu9560]

It's baffling how humans can use the distress and sorrow in their fellow human beings to justify socialism and the enslavement of the human race.

[@generalmalaise2930]

@@marumisu9560 low effort bait

[@Ninjaananas]

@@marumisu9560 Grasping for straws.

[@Cwinchk]

@@marumisu9560 lmfao

[@darkestheir]

I feel like this is someone falling apart. Someone that isnt supposed to fall apart finally falling apart. They're messy, it's getting everyone, you cant pick it up. There are signs of it everywhere, beneath your eyes or on your arms, in your breath and how your hands move. You're falling apart and it wont come back

[@sugoi694]

It kinda sucks that some people aren't able to feel the emotion in art and think people are being dramatic. It's really hard to portray emotions such as this in art pieces. They really did well on this one. The fact that it stops at some point really just makes me relate it to how a human may just get to a point where they "can't help themself" anymore, desperately trying to put themselves back together, until they can't

[@_.crime-4ND-punishment._]

You’re slowly losing yourself, panic starts to settle in, as you’re constantly trying to put yourself back together, while the whole world watches you as you slowly fall apart. And once you’ve finally given up, after you’re gone, nobody can watch you suffer anymore. *Oh shit maybe I need to go back to therapy-*

[@caststones2547]

Those “people” literally lack the iq to understand hypothetical empathetic reasoning. You’re not alone. We’re here one moment, gone the next, so breath and become more aware of each breath.

[@Zer0Skateboard]

Maybe cause yall literally self fellatiate to misery?

[@Astr0galactic]

I WANNA HUG THIS FLIPPING ROBOT

[@TheFluidShapeShifter]

I wish I could just break the glass and start collecting the liquid myself. But of course, I wasn’t there. I couldn’t break the glass either. And truly, Can’t Help Myself doesn’t actually *need* the oil. He was collecting it in vain.

[@ChINNg28]

I stood there for probably 20 minutes watching it. Some other people did the same. There's something about it that's really captivating; the most memorable artwork of my venice biennale experience 2019!

[@ShastaMarcelo]

So did I! I completely agree

[@danystefkova7306]

Same! Incredible

[@madalynnmarie1765]

so you didn’t help him

[@wikkedcurves]

should see what these fucks do to dogs

[@candwiko]

@@wikkedcurves what

[@maxjackson1410]

when it stopped moving and looked at the people, it felt like it was asking for help, but gave up..man, art is a wonder

[@johnnylego807]

Bot comment forsure. Prolly by the art owners. 1k likes and not a single comment. All I see is a sketchy hunk of machine cleaning up the blood of the massacred human race. Cold, brutal, and unforgiving. No feelings, it only knows what it’s programmed.

[@Anat-0]

timestamp?

[@Anat-0]

@@johnnylego807 nahh theres just nothing to reply about it. you wouldn't understand

[@jdubz33]

@@johnnylego807 so true, the fact this video is gaining so much popularity and everyone in the comments “feels oh so bad” for a machine is really telling of how brainwashed our society is.

[@tiktok_content9505]

@@jdubz33 Bruh 💀

[@Lulu-nh2yc]

"art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable" - Cesar A. Cruz

[@unmorganized]

@@janofb this is such an ignorant comment

[@adavey6822]

@@janofb what makes it stupid?

[@helens1016]

Profound😐

[@therhinogamer7862]

My name is Cruz

[@z0na72]

@@janofb the fact that you would take time out of you day to make such an ignorant and disrespectful comment like this just proves how immature people can be. this IS an art piece. the purpose of this piece is to show and relate to how others are feeling, which is the main connection throughout art. i’m sorry if you couldn’t feel the same emotions and many others including myself could, but please don’t be ignorant and call it “dumb” just because you genuinely feel nothing.

[@seacrystal6189]

The best depiction of self-harm I've ever seen in my life. The way "Can't help myself" can mean both "I am unable to help myself" and "I just can't resist"... Genius. One of my favourite works of art ever

[@nuclear_marshmelloe]

That's not even the meaning The meaning is the robot has problems and he keeps trying to fix it but he eventually is getting tired and will break down soon

[@papaq3810]

@@nuclear_marshmelloe, the beholder gives art meaning

[@nuclear_marshmelloe]

@@papaq3810 but thats is the meaning lol

[@TransitionalCharacters]

@@nuclear_marshmelloebut this is art. Regardless of what the creator “says” it is, art is inherently interpreted by the beholder. Someone can listen to a song and never know the reason why the artist wrote it (even if they state it in an interview somewhere) and it can have a different meaning and experience to them and that’s okay. Expected even. Just cause this artist explained inspiration and meaning behind it, doesn’t mean it’s wrong that someone is experiencing it differently. Art is meant to be felt and where it resonates is the magic and lure of it

[@limit420]

​@@nuclear_marshmelloeI'm not even trying to be a know it all, and I'm far from an "art" person, but this CLEARLY has a lot more meaning than what you're saying. Even on it's most basic level. There's a reason why, at first, it was spinning around, interacting with people, etc. But, it gets to a point where it's lost so much fluid, all it can do is focus on recovering enough to "stay alive". That part, I don't think is really subjective. I think that's the basis of this project, and the rest is up to us to decide, to see how we relate, etc. For example, having too much fun early in your life to the point where you end up spending the middle/later stages of your life working non-stop just to get by.

[@svaclapp]

There is something so frustrating about the movement. You want the arm to just scoop the blood in a slow smooth, symmetrical motion to create a perfect circle of blood. It could be programmed to do that. But instead, it is shaking and throwing its arm up and back, swinging around, and scooping in a random chaotic way.

[@annavanna8719]

Its trying to do its best 🥺

[@heaxze]

that’s just how it was made, like i read an article about it and it says it takes “dance breaks” and the sensors sensor whenever the liquid goes far. if that makes sense??

[@heaxze]

but i have seen a video of it going in a “slow smooth, symmetrical motion” it’s very neat

[@qxe3l]

hes trying his best

[@heaxze]

@@scrimblo3028 no, not specifically. it just looks like it but it’s not blood

[@xxaqua_lpsxx]

The fact that this was created in that moment to represent an endless motion of work and repeating yourself. It slowly begins to stop, to rust and wear down, it gets tired of doing the same thing over and over again. One day it will no longer run and will fall apart just like the rest of us.

[@RedwoodAmaril]

It already has

[@heather4805]

It did In 2019 It's programmed to stop

[@JuanGomez-zx2cq]

Verdad.

[@zim1912]

It did. After it’s death the installation changed the name to “Couldn’t Help Myself”

[@cybermark4732]

It stopped in 2019. Or at least that is that I heard.

[@valkyria4631]

I can't help but anthropomorphize this robot.The name of it, "Can't Help Myself", plus its appearance, conjures up the image of someone who has killed somebody accidentally (or in a crime of passion) and is frantically trying to clean up the blood but there's just so much of it everywhere and it seems to keep spreading. The shaking "dance" kind of makes it look like it's sobbing or too panicked to know what to do with its limbs.

[@reneepeters5051]

Very good observation. I see that too.

[@jamesbizs]

Well. Yeah... that’s kinda the point lol

[@colorbar.s]

@@jamesbizs no, it's entirely up for interpretation. this is just theirs.

[@xeraph02]

To me it's just a dead robot, literally. Black color symbolizes dead.

[@weeniebutt8783]

I think the same but instead I imagine the blood is its own and its panicking trying to scoop all the blood back into its wound but no matter how hard it tries it can never get all of it back in

[@Someone-tf1tk]

Feels like a horror movie. Also feels like me trying to get my art homework done at midnight when it's due the next day

[@vincetin7012]

I can help you with your art homework.

[@Flairis]

@@vincetin7012boi he don’t got that shit no more 😅

[@LIGHTNINGWIRE]

​@@FlairisLMAOOOOOOO 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Flairis]

brodie probably graduated by now fr@@LIGHTNINGWIRE

[@chriswilson-ko2it]

I like when the camera zooms out in the final scene: we see the arm continuing to labor away, trying in vein to clean up a mess that keeps coming. On the outside of the glass, people carry on about their day, indifferent to its suffering. The problems of the robot are it’s own; it’s plight is insignificant to the outside world. Very symbolic

[@THEdominator4456]

It is the machines own liquid for how old it is

[@mackaroni9792]

Reminds me of working my ass off for $9.50, constantly on my feet for the entire shift, going going going constantly, no breaks, taking care of dogs, while the owner of the god forsaken place is god knows where probably enjoying all the money he's raking in from the rich people that send their pets to us.

[@mistybloom3]

@@THEdominator4456 from what I understand its liquid poured around the machine and its not leaking itself. Just trying to clean it up.

[@Kayley199514]

@@mistybloom3 actually no, it was designed to constantly "bleed out" hydraulic fluid and programmed to keep itself alive by sweeping it back into itself. It had to keep enough in its system to maintain its job,, or it would "die". In 2019, it officially stopped moving because it finally got so old and worn that it couldn't contain it's own leaking enough to survive. It was named "can't help myself" and is now called "couldn't help myself".

[@Alex-kd5xc]

Vain

[@Hannahdabeast]

As someone’s who’s struggled with self-harm and self-destructive behavior my whole life, this really hits different. You know it’s bad and messy and you hate cleaning up, both physically and metaphorically, after doing it but... you just can’t help yourself.

[@santo5691]

I feel this as well looking at it move the way it did. :(

[@meow5655]

THATS why im so emotional ab this 😦

[@piccalillipit9211]

I hope you can find peace... I struggle with a facial twitch that arrived when I was incredibly stressed and has never left... Every time I get even slightly stressed it starts twitching and scrunching up my face, I sometimes feel like attacking it to stop it - even though I know this wont help...

[@blinded6502]

@@piccalillipit9211 Have you tried cannabis? You really need to calm your brain down

[@piccalillipit9211]

@@blinded6502 - I'm allergic to cannabis - unfortunately. Transcendental Mediation helps, I do that. Yoga helps, I do that. A drug called Atterax does work but it makes me feel like a zombie... Weirdly - 85% dark chocolate helps - 1 or 2 cubes a day - possibly the magnesium content!?!??!

[@vql0ser443]

Fun Fact!! As of right now in 2021 , This art piece has officially stopped moving. You can still see this heartbreaking and beautiful work but it won’t be moving at all.

[@Shli4ara]

why not move?

[@toonbax3]

@@Shli4ara It was programed to eventually stop. Because all life stops at some point

[@Hannah-cf4ev]

He stopped in 2019. RIP!

[@greensheen8759]

Those robots require periodic maintenance based off how many hours they've been moving. They probably programmed it to stop once it hit its maintenance interval

[@Mcoogie]

It was programmed to move the hydrolic oil when it's spilling away in order to stay alive. When it didn't have to move oil it can move randomly or "dance." The oil over time spills out more easily. So in the beginning it spent a lot of time "dancing" and with time over the years, danced less and less, as the oil required more attention. Eventually the robot wasn't able to dance at all, and was moving oil non stop in order to stay alive. Of course, eventually it couldn't keep up with the spillage and because it requires the oil to live, it naturally died. 😑😑

[@cream4861]

와 진짜 신기하네.. 로봇에겐 의지가 있는게 아니기에 부여된 대로 작동하는 것뿐인데 액체와 사운드 작품의도가 제대로 더해져서 역하다는 감정이 그대로 느껴져

[@clownymilky]

the thing that saddens me the most about this beautiful piece is how it's stuck in an endless loop,inside a white room with glass so others can watch it struggle while suffering and trying to fix the mess that cannot be fixed. The sounds,the movements,it looks like it's crying and breaking down.

[@michaelpavich1313]

Stuck in an endless loop of suffering and panicking whilst people just walk by, some stop and take a look but do nothing to help. Maybe I interpreted that wrong but to me it reminds me of how people treat the homeless.

[@spacenachos]

@@michaelpavich1313 thats a great interpretation. There is not really a wrong interpretation. That's the beauty of art. Everyone sees it different. Thanks for sharing.

[@cliverivett6050]

🤖 robot beep boop

[@suphee]

it’s a fucking robot

[@roxiwolfs]

it's just a machine lmao it's supposed to make sound like that and it has no feelings

[@FBI-ob5eo]

This is the most stunningly devastating piece I’ve ever seen

[@ailurochan]

it´s so emotional...

[@rixille]

Fuck the FBI

[@temp9894]

@@rixille what happened.

[@slice-o-life]

Lol

[@user-jj9re7pw6x]

@@rixille what FBI agent hurt u bro ☠️

[@edwardhoover6412]

congrats! you gave it anxiety

[@tegan4796]

this just made me feel really weird, i cant describe it.

[@TheRealTKTwilight]

You've come so far, little robot art piece. Even though you're being forced to do the same thing for literally nothing, for so long while everyone just watches you, not even offering to help or even tell you how hard you've been working. And yet through it all you just keep doing it, probably hoping one day it will finally end. But you're still going strong, despite whatever hardships have come and gone. You're working so hard, and I'm so proud of you.

[@TheRealTKTwilight]

The day you finally stop to rest will be well deserved, even if nobody else will see or realize it., And I hope, after I've also long suffered to try my hardest to do what everyone wants even though it's never enough and mostly for nothing, that I will one day join you in your rest.

[@stargirl32102]

god it looks so lonely in there trying to clean up the blood by itself

[@knowledge_panfru3385]

It's not actual blood

[@bunnybit4722]

@@knowledge_panfru3385 we know.

[@plutoyoon]

@@knowledge_panfru3385 well duh. if it was we would have some lawsuits on our hands

[@philipm3173]

@@knowledge_panfru3385 no shit

[@Bro-tl1ev]

It‘s so interesting how this lifeless metal robot provoked so much empathy in everyone. It seems so alive and human. It’s so sad.

[@cliverivett6050]

🤖 robot beep boop

[@timthompson8235]

Dont feel bad for it, feel bad for the 6 squeegee men this robot replaced.

[@lemqnshark]

you*

[@tracyn9907]

My take: it’s panicking cause people are watching, they can see everything. “I’m falling apart, it’s a mess everywhere but y’all are not supposed to see this. I’ll try to look happy for you so I put in a little dance and shimmy here and there whilst trying to keep myself together, pretending like I’m not broken. I’m grateful for these walls that doesn’t let this mess touch you, or am I? Cause the same walls will end up killing me anyway. I can’t help myself”

[@tegan4796]

this is exactly how i see it

[@arsene6512]

Bro it's a machine

[@ZcatUwU]

@@arsene6512 it's art man, it's meant to be interpreted. You can see it as a robot but others can see meaning behind it

[@Stickfissh]

O.O damn im- wow-

[@gliscorr_]

@@arsene6512 reminder that everything can have meaning behind it

[@Xs_1inkx]

This is art, and it feels so real, the movement of panic and stress, the sounds of screams and crys. Even though Its not alive it still gives of the same vibe as a sad human would, moving slowly and getting tired of the job it’s doing. It stoping to look at the sounding people like it’s asking for help. Imagine working at the place, seeing the same movements but slower and more painful and it suddenly stops, like it is not happy with its work and it gives up. It’s done a good job and its made a meaningful meaning. It’s honestly Beautiful…

[@Just_Omar99]

Imagine being a security guard in that room. One day this weird robot comes in and starts making all this noise and you can’t stand it and a few months in you’re used to the sounds and find it probably soothing. Next thing you know the enclosure is so much dirtier and the machines dances a little less.. moves a little slower.. years go by and the machine eventually stops completely. You’re left back in silence. having seen this machine live out it’s life that someone built it to die for. And you wonder if sweeping some oil in the machine will help it? But you know you can’t. Because this is life.. they come, they live and they die. This is art

[@minimumgreens5918]

Ur geeking

[@aunicorn3812]

lmao relax

[@impstolemyshoes4974]

As a security guard… That’s dope.

[@mochixsaito]

Nah people are hating on your comment but that’s such a cool short story idea 😭

[@dennispnut]

meanwhile you also realise you're draining your life in the museum, seeing yourself having the same eventual fate as the robot

[@tonyspider03]

This feels like a suicide attempt, the panic of what you’ve just done setting in while trying frantically to contain the mess

[@savanna9762]

THIS

[@livlaughloathe]

yes :((

[@theblues197]

damn :(

[@tchristina30ify]

I've never related more to a comment

[@cliverivett6050]

🤖 robot

[@claudial4177]

the fact that it will never end, the machine will never succeed and will never clean it up. It's heartbreaking and fearful. How hopeless a machine could ever ever be.

[@tegan4796]

ouch.

[@lovevelyyy]

Im pretty sure it died now.it stopped moving :(

[@cliverivett6050]

🤖 robot beep boop

[@zkgarage1939]

@@lovevelyyy Is there a video on it?

[@knynx]

It has now stopped working

[@-Lazy]

One of the few modern pieces of art one can understand and relate to.

[@ochanoii4256]

This is literally what cleaning up a mess after trauma feels like. You're stressed about it and just want it to go away and get rid of it, but no matter how much you try to it's always gonna be there.

[@YouNolf]

Not if you do somatic work

[@whoareyou3220]

i love seeing everyone’s different interpretations of this

[@vikirap666]

opino lo mismo tyler

[@arosario465]

This was my thought

[@Gertrude-Intrudes]

Literally love it. Been reading and screenshoting some comments.

[@anti_fragile]

It's mostly just confusing to me. I get it , the robot is trying to complete an impossible task , mopping the red liquid , but I have no idea how people think this robot looks/sounds stressed or panicked. It looks like a robot doing what it is programmed and it sounds like a robot that needs a bit of WD40

[@roberts3423]

The robot murdered someone and is trying to clean up the crime scene, but it can't help itself for murdering someone, its a machine

[@ditos7555]

i feel like the art “cant help myself” is something like taking in all the pain to not put it on others, blaming yourself to not get in the way. it's almost like us humans who try to clean the mess by ourselves and push it towards ourself damaging ourselves in the process of trying to fix

[@BarbieBizarree]

Basically just trying to hold everything together

[@noahhibbs6460]

You actually put that in great words. Couldn’t agree more!

[@nickmauricio1058]

That is a very interesting interpretation of the art piece

[@gameseeker6307]

I smell lies

[@stinky.404]

This art piece means a lot to me, and has helped me realize a lot about myself and my trauma, I wish I was able to see it before it eventually died. I’m just thankful there’s a lot of videos and interest in it so I can at least see it vicariously through those means.

[@aieuu_]

In my perspective it almost sounds like its panicking, in 2016 it used to be energetic and restless about cleaning the mess, now in 2021 it most seems like its getting hopeless and tired everyday, and at times would start having a breakdown due to the constant panicking of pleasing the people watching it break down into pieces making it become more and more frantic, honestly one of the most relatable art pieces I've ever seen

[@BrockDavisson]

technically it died in 2019

[@tiktok_content9505]

@@BrockDavisson Good. It shouldn’t suffer 😔 now it’s in robot heaven and he can have all the oil he wants

[@Zealox]

@@tiktok_content9505 huh

[@giovannis4635]

@@tiktok_content9505 F 😔

[@wjm_]

Panicking ? It’s a fucking computer

[@wokktastic]

This is both intriguing yet painful to watch. It’s like all the robots time, energy and effort is being spent on something that turns out to be utterly pointless. The robot is oblivious to this fact so it remains doing the same thing over and over. It’s an endless cycle. An excruciating time loop.

[@theaxolotlgod1204]

This hurts to watch. The way I can relate to this machine almost as if it is an extension of myself is astonishing. The feeling of hopelessly trying to keep myself together, to keep myself sane, to keep myself myself, is so well portrayed by this screaming, hurting, screeching mechanical masterpiece. Our life is spilling out and we're trying desperately to keep it in. Trying to make sure that our hurt doesn't hurt anyone else. Building walls to keep it separate from other people while pushing them away in the process. This is just such a personal piece of artwork.

[@toniduenas7223]

I'm sorry you feel that way. Don't forget that someone getting paid 3 dollars a day build you're phone. Laptop and other stuff you buy

[@burgerman1897]

Bro it's not that deep

[@marnhiar5520]

AIs are becoming self aware and commenting on this video

[@mademda4759]

@@burgerman1897 yes it is shut up and let people interpret art that is meant to represent something.

[@Mrmikey0909]

@@toniduenas7223 Please, elaborate so we can see if you are actually intelligent or just being obtuse. I suspect that you don't really care how he feels. Right? Do you really care about the workers earning so little? How would they survive if you took that $3 away? Is how little they earn your point? What do you do to make their lives better?

[@cagedcorvid]

i like how humans are able to interpret this in a way that makes them feel sympathy for it while knowing it's a machine, i find that very fascinating!

[@thekitty-o-kat]

this makes me feel emotions i can't quite place

[@RondoDondo]

This is absolutely terrifying. I feel like this is a confession of murder.

[@carlosroman520]

Thought the same.. the color choice of the fluid, not bright red but deep dark red with brown/orange tint.. the machine resembling a blade.. more like "I did it and I'm going to brag about it"

[@loRdpharaoh]

literally one of my first thoughts, and what if those sounds are pre recorded fucking creepy

[@medinaa8109]

y’all and the ppl who replied to this are weird yo it’s a robot

[@carlosroman520]

@@medinaa8109 That a person made. Down to color choice. Food for thought?? 🤔 if we're all weird... what are you?? 🤭🤫🤔

[@fizzypopgrl5548]

yall trying to say the creators murdered someone? 😭 cause thats a drag (not @op, the replies i mean)

[@goregoyle2379]

The way 1:00 when it shakes it’s head and reels up shaking is so emotional. It feels like anguish and embarrassment. Makes me feel so bad for it.

[@ppoppoiop6336]

Funny, I thought it was just supposed to be cute and charming there.

[@gi.chxewon5306]

It just reminds me of a scene in movies where usually a character does something bad and just starts going, “no no no no no”. It really hurts and makes me feel bad for it.

[@Mrmoai-rm3pg]

IT SPILLED MY BBQ SAUCE

[@jacksonm6969]

Omg shut up. Its a fucking robot arm

[@jihadbazzi7509]

one must imagine robot happy

[@ruins6686]

For me, this art piece symbolizes like...how your own reality can end up being so uncontrollable? The blood is obviously coming from the robot, yet it cant stop it from seeping out? It frantically bolts around itself to stop it and keep it in but it keeps seeping out, it turns around and its more. Its will is to keep the blood in but its body says “no.” So its stuck in this loop of cleaning and sweep and mopping accompanied with jerky movements, anger, and screaming as it melts down while its own maker destroys it. This concept is terrifying to me.

[@Alfie-xt6zo]

I love when people with crazy pfps and funny usernames are jUST FUCKING SMART

[@RosaRodriguez-kz9tz]

@@Alfie-xt6zo literally 💀

[@zl7568]

@@Alfie-xt6zo LMFAO I just read their user

[@millyturnerr26]

@@Alfie-xt6zo love your pfp and username😂😂🤣

[@utuberaptor]

Making the liquid red was so genius. This piece could already invoke so many different feelings for different people with different mental disorders, but for neurotypical people who might not immediately connect with this on their own can easily assume it's meant to be blood and feel horrified by the various implications. So many different ways to look at this. I could watch it for hours

[@korbf7778]

Its oil

[@mckenziecolson7461]

It's hydraulic fluid which is naturally this color but I do agree it gives you that shock value

[@Johnb.78]

Don’t try and associate the artists intentions to use red liquid with intersectional rubbish

[@mckenziecolson7461]

@@Johnb.78 but....but that's the point. This machine is in a constant war with itself because it must scoop this fluid that keeps it going back into its mechanisms. That's what it was created to do.

[@Johnb.78]

@@mckenziecolson7461 I was addressing that comment to the original poster

[@lucilfer6840]

Imagine thinking this art as a person. A living being, a human. Bleeding out, panicking & having no one to help but themselves. Stressing over something that you can't really do anything about. Such an amazing meaning, an art with s poem deep down. It's crazy how a machine can simply show what an alive human being can go through. It even shows the panick, the overwhelming feeling and showing that you just want to give up but can't stop yourself. Hope every one of your poems are heard & listened (poems are your voices & stories)

[@xyi7100]

I think at them like a person who have people who tell them ,,I'm here for U" even they don't rlly ment it. When I thin at this art piece, I think at a person who says,,It's gonna be fine. I can handle this."even when they know they can't count on someone. They don't wann ask for help. Bcs they think they don't deserve it. They don't wanna be a a obstacle. So they keep all in themselves. Until they explode. Until they rust. Until is too late. Until they have no longer blood to bleed. Until they can't motivate themselves anymore. Cause if they don't deserve it, cause they are a problem. When u can't ask for help, u don't wanna bother people. U don't wanna be another problem. It's sad. Cause I don't wanna ask for help. Cause if I ask for help, they say ,,People have worse than u. Ure just dramatic". It's sad, cause no matter how bad is always worse. Ure not worth help. Cause ur dramatic. Cause u don't deserve help. ,,Keep it in. U can handle this." Until u can't keep it in anymore

[@saiman3515]

bro calm down, its not that deep

[@alannajackson832]

This to me is a visual representation of how my brain was functioning when I was going through Post partum depression after giving birth to my first daughter . I couldn't give up but i so desperately needed help as people just watched me deteriorate.... the panicked feeling of crying for help as everybody watched me struggle ... why is this so relatable

[@curriculum_vitae_cv]

Are you okay now? I hope your daughter is okay either.

[@meredithpeterson7281]

I see this and immediately think of myself as this robot, born into an aseptic landscape, burdened with an unending Sisyphean task, both grotesque and noble, witnessed by masses that commiserate with my plight yet do nothing. Shit. That is some good-ass art.

[@jamesbizs]

Meredith Peterson you really need a hobby lol.

[@ItsNoelle.]

me too

[@Lissbirds]

And all I could think of was, "it missed a spot."

[@heliogonzalez2663]

Absolute brutal

[@rickg9580]

I was curious at first and I came to the same understanding as what you stated. 👍

[@II-ne3lp]

This reminds me of when you’re stuck in a situation that you cannot handle alone and everyone around you just sits and watches as you struggle with something you clearly cannot do

[@rileydimartino3409]

This is a piece of contemporary art that truly conveys what it's getting at. The image and experience of it is so evocative and powerful, particularly seeing the other people's reactions to it as well, that it becomes vastly more than the shape or visual of it. I'm damn amazed.

[@thisismyrealname2860]

When art can make you cry. This is so moving

[@listenhere2006]

it looks sad

[@robertmihok8172]

yes very sad and scary too

[@huhimhere170]

I think it's the sounds and the way it moves so slowly when cleaning. It's heartbreaking tbh

[@biggestnoob4704]

Found this through a tumblr post. It looked a lot smaller in the photo!

[@audiovisual_404]

doesnt it?

[@awlomthesheepermen]

Hey me too

[@toca1446]

Yo same- it looked like an itty baby this thing is horrifying in a way. I love it.

[@daveatron_]

i love the way this robot moves! they have such personality. the twisting! the way they rear their head! the noises! delightful

[@sassytabasco]

These two are kind of brilliant. I've seen works of art of theirs where on the outset, your elevator pitch describing the components of the piece would sound so edgy and pretentious. And yet, when you see it in action, it's profoundly upsetting. They tap into some truly difficult emotions.

[@judygarlandrailme3555]

this provoked so many uncomfortable emotions for me 😭 anxiety, confusion, curiosity, sadness, and most of all hopeless. i feel as though being an outsider looking in i just want to help the poor thing and clean it up with him but it interferes with the whole message which i think is trying to portray the difficulties that humans go through in high pressure situations and having many people aware yet unable to help because the robot is trapped in their own little world. It also makes it such a one way perspective art piece which is why i think it’s my ultimate favorite.. besides my clay pot i made in 2nd grade :)

[@therepublicofignorance1425]

God can make you whole. Put your trust in Him and lean not on your own understanding. And that glass box built around you in your own little world will shatter and you will be free and people will be able to help. The hopelessness and anxiety and fear and panic this artwork conveys strikes home for far too many people, because at the end of the day who hasn’t felt like this? And it can be go away, in it’s own time, like it did for me. To be saved you first have to call out to God and admit that you are a sinner. Ask for forgiveness. You have to truly believe that Jesus died and was raised back to life on the third day. Ask for the Holy Spirit to live in you. And ask to be made new. The Lord is good, and He’s entirely changed my life over the last year, and He can change yours too. He’s right there, waiting. He stands at the door and knocks. It’s your move wether or not you open the door.

[@chrisbranch288]

Nobody is talking about 1:02 and how the brush shakes back and forth, looking like a panicked person shaking their head, stressed by the overwhelming task at hand.

[@kaljamaha16]

Nice detail didnt even notice it at first

[@69emos85]

Not sure if anyone has talked about this yet, and whatever representation people take it as is true to them, but to me I think what's most striking is that the audience is set up surrounding the robot. Like we're a crowd watching this happen not doing anything to help. Obviously in the gallery it's because we can't, but in real life you see many cases where people just watch you fall apart

[@RDXO17]

I understood your analogy

[@aampudia8]

no, i think they set up a fence because the robot doesn't have a way to detect anyone walking in it's space, and it moves without thinking, if anyone walked in the robot would hit the crap out of anyone there.... it's just a safety measure, not smething that we should over-analyze

[@69emos85]

@@aampudia8 a simple fence would've done that. They put him in a box. Again, it's whatever interpretation you see. That's the first thing that stood out to me, and the beauty of art is everyone sees it differently.

[@user-nd1kv8qb5w]

@@aampudia8 I agree. I work for Chrysler and have literally worked around multiple robots just like this. Most have to be enclosed and you have to lock out/tag out the machine to enter for maintenance.

[@rabbitazteca23]

This is a reflection of me that for a long I have refused to admit exists because if I do it makes me fall into a deep pit of despair. So I will say my peace and not linger any longer. This art is beautiful and I am surprised at how it captures a part of us that most of have felt at one point. Life feels like a constant sequence of breaking and fixing and it is never ending. We sometimes find happiness and repreive but deep down we know such things are temporary and this constant breaking and fixing is the only thing that is really permanent in us all. May we live in interesting times...

[@shn_ntn]

I love the comment section here. Every body is a poet in their own way. I love how you share your own interpretation of it. Keep it up and I'm proud of you all ❤️

[@user-pk2xo7lv7e]

Shut up

[@davibergamin5943]

when the robots take control of the world this artwork will be considered "inhumane"

[@acep2215]

I had this exact thought! Damn lol

[@grellsutcliffe8265]

I'm not sure why, at this level of AI it isn't anywhere near being considered alive in the slightest, it's not like dog racing or something

[@lillianblack6931]

do u think robots would care about humanity

[@davibergamin5943]

@@grellsutcliffe8265 say that when the robots enslave us

[@grellsutcliffe8265]

@@davibergamin5943 okay, bring that dollar store camera and record my ass when it happens, I'll do an iphone give away and everything 😒

[@miloaukermanreal6577]

along with the piece itself feeling like panic and anxiety over how it “cannot fix itself” i think the atmosphere it’s put in really means a lot to, it’s in this big box, trapped in with itself and it can only fail around frantically trying to keep itself together as everyone else just watches or walks by…it’s powerful

[@hanac5586]

Very well described!

[@AB-yg2vw]

Why do I wanna go in there and help the poor thing. I wanna cry for it.

[@marissa8307]

This is my favourite piece of art. Ever to exist. It says so much. You can see a whole story behind the works of this masterpiece. I think it’s brilliant how long people, and as of myself could just look at this. People do actually stand there for many many minutes and hours etc. Just to stare. Take on what’s happening. Relate. Understand this art. I could watch this thing run for hours upon hours myself honestly. And never get phased.. Definitely shows so much emotion, and to what’s going on.. I’ve never felt so passionate about ANY piece of art. But this, I understand it. It’s tired. It’s tired of being used. It’s tired of cleaning. It’s tired out trying to help itself to be perfect for everyone around. It is just tired. I believe this shows a lot of how the world is to even just one human. And that this is how someone feels when they feel like they can’t go to anyone. Be anyone. Get bashed. Pushed away. Used. It’s genuinely tired. Compared to videos of when it was first made. It shocks me, To now, how slow it is. Running all this time. It’s crazy. It’s sad.

[@rrgrad4825]

This is deep, show this to your english teacher

[@marissa8307]

@@rrgrad4825 hell I thought it was terrible now reading it again😂😂 I could’ve done better for my expectations. sophomore🤦‍♀️

[@rrgrad4825]

@@marissa8307 thats a masterpiece dont underestimate yourself i wish i couldve said smth like that😭😭

[@marissa8307]

@@rrgrad4825 you so sweet🥺😭😂 Honestly though, I could’ve worded it a bit more formal in my opinion…🤣🤣 But thank you🥰🥰

[@TheNitroG1]

they put a robot in a room with some red soup...GREATEST ART EXHIBIT I'VE EVER SEEN!!!! It's not tired...it's a robot and it's a dumb exhibit that pretentious people think is intelligent.

[@torresworries]

I just love how they put this art piece in the middle of a walkway, represents life. No matter what's you're doing, no matter how important it is or how valuable it holds, life will still pass by, not giving importance if you have accomplished anything.

[@acidvolcano]

powerful work of art. almost made me cry

[@sciencesystem4637]

me and the boys watching the can't help myself robot art installation together

[@sciencesystem4637]

and crying

[@TheChoreologist]

I believe this is one of the most beautifully frightening things I have ever seen.

[@santo5691]

Looking at this in my head I'm like "somebody help this poor robot please.." I literally wanna cry just thinking about it along with the meaning. I feel like this mechanical machinery. Having to try and scoop up what I can get left of my pain before it can reach or affect anyone. Figuratively speaking, I'm crying and I want someone to help but I know at that same time I cannot allow that because of how grotesque the pain is (just like the blood).

[@FTMothman]

As someone who’s experienced mental health issues this hurt a lot.

[@urmom1491]

yes!! it really does capture it so well

[@leolego2]

@Aubame Pierre you don't know shit

[@suphee]

you’re literally such a soft ass little bitch it’s a fucking robot there are things in this world 100000 times worse and you little snowflakes are over here feeling bad for a damn robot

[@MaybeNotARobot]

SOMEONE GET IN THERE WITH SOME PROPER CLEANING EQUIPMENT RIGHT NOW *OR SO HELP ME*

[@laurellewis1638]

I'm close to the end and this represents so accurately how I spend my days...Powerful...

[@moosedraw3731]

The worst part is that each year, it just slowly got slower and slower and less "peppy" I guess. It would wave at guests, and move around and dance at the start, and slowly just sat there never truly being able to clean up that blood like fluid, and now... Has just stopped. Honestly, it is a great piece of art. And that's coming from someone who doesn't really understand art, like... It's often dumb shit, but this actually has a genuine internal emotional response and it's insane that it's just a robot...

[@mg0978]

i think that this robot truly is as close to human nature as a robot can get. not even the one‘s looking like people and talking and stuff can compare. it‘s astonishing.

[@rileytheworm8991]

Something so beautiful about this is how everyone in the comments has different (albeit pretty similar) interpretations of this piece. Everyone can see the panic and desperation portrayed by this robot, but it means something a little different to each person.

[@bendingbananas6540]

Typically not a fan of modern art but this did make me feel some type of way

[@trinityseara7564]

To me this art piece means life. Every individual is trying to keep everything together, this machine is doing this for its entire existence, so are we. We are being constantly watched in doing so. Everyone is watching yet no one helps.

[@user-nq9wt4hr1s]

God I love this artwork, the way the robot moves has emotions. In 1:09 and 1:02 it was making a weird movement like it’s frustrated with themselves not being able to clean the mess up.

[@Inexpressable]

i think that move is called the 'ass shake', going by the video description.

[@aubreyflolove6731]

Its like: no.. no i cant clean all of that Please help me

[@felispolyglottos]

It sounds scared.

[@BoomKatz]

ITS A MACHINE.

[@felispolyglottos]

@@BoomKatz well stars n garters Boom Katz of KZbin fame you really did catch me there. Damn I'm oh so very corrected by the comment. I think I might just go and change out all my life goings about it. Wowzers. Kindly piss off, y'baron of bastardly action, it's an art piece. Find somethin' better t'do than bark at folks in the comments of a damn KZbin video.

[@GenericGooner]

What a fascinating display. Several different meanings and conclusions can be drawn.

[@butterflyshootout5462]

The way there are so many people outside just watching adds more emotion and symbolism to it.

[@joshmenard240]

this piece is one of my favorite works of art ever, it captures the feeling of anxiety and panic and helplessness so well, especially with how each time it tries to clean up one section the other side is getting worse, continually making the cycle of anxiety and helplessness worse

[@SharkBeret]

I love how this piece of art can be interpreted in so many different deep ways yet the creators described one of the machine’s movements as “ass shake” reference: paragraph in description

[@mckenzieprice2270]

I love this art exhibit, but man, it always makes me feel so sad for that machine. I guess that’s a testament to how well the artist/engineer executed this piece.

[@carmelsab]

this is so unsettling.. i love reading the comments and seeing everyone’s different perspectives and different interpretations. the way that i first interpreted it/what it made me think of - is someone who is hurt and bleeding, and trying to keep themself together on their own and trying to keep everything contained - not letting the blood reach anyone else. it doesnt want other people to get dirty from the blood, it can deal with it by itsself.

[@FloweyFanClub]

this makes me want to cry

[@cassiekat44]

the movements, specifically at around 2:12 make it seem so helpless. that combined with all the screeching sounds seems like a cry for help, people suffering often feel trapped which is why the audience outside of the box seems like part of the art piece. the poor machine keeps moving around trying to express itself and still, no one can help it. it feels so helpless while everyone just stands and watches. it’s not their fault, but it still feels awful :( this piece is truly a masterpiece

[@Ibloop]

It’s doing the sprinkler!!

[@aubreyflolove6731]

Yea but if human came in the glass box where robot is then he would kill them when moving them all around the ground then he would start cleaning Real blood

[@aubreyflolove6731]

I mean dragging

[@rajendraverrill]

​@@aubreyflolove6731 BRO THATS DARK 😭

[@cuttism1]

One must imagine the robots happy.

[@Charlotte-zj3ng]

This is beyond incredible. A piece of art has never made me cry before. But this machine looks to be in such distress and agony, trying to hold himself together, that it becomes painful to watch. I relate so much to it on a mental level - you keep on going because you have to but you feel yourself falling apart in the treacherous monotony and watch yourself deteriorate in the process, trying to keep it together. Incredible work of art. It begs the question of whether “machine torture” is a ‘thing’. Because this looks like it to me

[@lauraliura]

idk if this makes sense but to me this is what it feels like to wake up after a failed suicide attempt. it's a mess, you're a mess, you didn't intend for this to happen the way it did. but you're still here and now have to deal with the fallout.

[@ItsNoelle.]

yes the panic and the mess and being frozen in disbelief

[@Xenite]

THIS makes me feel a lot, so I suppose by artistic standards, it's very effective. Mostly terrible, scary emotions, but emotions nonetheless. Great work to the artists!

[@Ed_Row_Feez]

This is the most relatable and introspective art pieces I have ever seen

[@madisonp5666]

This piece reminds me of the incapability to leave a small imperfection alone. Like perfectionism, the thing must be perfect, be clean. But, in the process of trying to perfect it, you make more of a mess, make it worse. And you regret it, and you know you should’ve just let it be.

[@akiraishere9319]

Everyone watches it's suffering, but nobody can help. It's trapped behind 4 walls of thick glass, which is almost how it feels to be suffering from mental problems, you're stuck and everyone can see you're stuck, but nobody can help because of these walls that have been involuntarily placed around you. This art is heartbreaking

[@anonymouse991]

As a RN, this touches me deeply. Frantically honing in on the next patient that is bleeding out needing my help only for another to emerge directly after. Lack of resources, support, energy, but trying. Trying so hard to prevent each one from bleeding out ensuring that they are treated with kindness, empathy, compassion- that family is supported, communication is given, that documentation is completed, policy is followed, more with less. I am empty. So many have died. So many more bleeding out, and so many watching but not helping. I am empty. Soon I will stop working and shut down too.

[@wtfduud]

This is the most metal piece of art ever made. Literally and figuratively.

[@zla_204]

Thank you