Beads of Sweat

Los Angeles artist Liza Lou uses beads to create highly detailed, vivid environments. The 31-year-old Lou’s latest piece, a trailer beaded in shades of black and white, is “Homette,” which she calls “a homage to film noir.” We deconstruct it here.

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CANVAS

1949 Spartan Mobile Mansion Lou found abandoned in West Cajon Valley in October 1999

35 feet long, 8 feet tall, 8 feet wide

Aluminum exterior, wood and Formica interior

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MEDIA

More than 25 million glass beads of varying dimensions glued together to create the interior scene

Wood, wire, papier-mache and fiberglass resin used in various combinations to create all but a few of the home’s contents, including large furniture pieces

Heavy white glue, hot glue, epoxy, Bondo, duct tape, double-sided tape, paper clips and thread (to affix beads)

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METHOD

About 8,500 total work hours, divided between Lou and three assistants

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DETAILS

Two bottles whiskey, one in den (Jack Daniel’s) and one in bedroom (Jim Beam)

One pot of coffee on rear left burner of gas stove

Two boxes of Marlboro cigarettes

One acoustic guitar

Five guns

One hunting knife

One vise

Three imaginary books: “How To Hunt Deer,” “Shooter’s Bible,” and “Proud Guns”

One portable Royal typewriter

One note reading “Keep Your Eyes On The Road To Liberty”

Two crumpled balls of paper

One camera

One ball of string

Four nature paintings

The life-size leg of a man at the foot of the bed

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SOUND

The 1948 film noir classic “Force of Evil” playing on the TV in a constant loop

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“Homette” appeared recently in the courtyard of the L.A. County Museum of Art, and will be displayed by the Deitch Projects in Manhattan next February.