Mark Dion Talks Excavations

Mark Dion discusses his immersive, uncanny installation at La Brea Tar Pits.

Mark Dion standing outside in front of mammoth sculptures and lake pit

Mark Dion’s immersive, uncanny installation at La Brea Tar Pits, Excavations, evokes a behind-the-scenes museum space, displaying new work alongside early museum murals, dioramas, and maquettes of Ice Age mammals in a playful, irreverent presentation in keeping with his meticulous yet mischievous approach. During an extended residency at the Tar Pits, Dion assisted with excavations, sorted microfossils, shadowed a taxidermist at the Natural History Museum, explored collections and archives, and interviewed researchers, educators, and floor staff to create this installation.