The Manos Buckius Cooperative

The MBC Rolling, Series II

Manos/Buckius engage rolling objects commonly used for auto mechanics’ work to perform domestic-based work highlighting and questioning the assumed duality between so-called masculine and feminine labor roles and the heightened value given to capitalist/commodity-based industry over caregiving/service-based (and often unpaid) industry. The video is a quilt of improvised encounters in interstitial and adjacent filmic space between the two performers; it is chance choreography with alignment and misalignment in movements and actions engaging objects and technology.

Manos & Buckius are based in Michigan & California, USA respectively.


The ManosBuckius Cooperative creates video and live performance responding to labor and productivity in highly unproductive ways. Finding humor in absurd situations caused by cultural and systemic constraints, they are inspired by the physical and visual work of Lucille Ball, Jacques Tati and DEVO. Recently their research and camera lens is focused on domestic and caregiving work, which they each undertake in their families. Manos and Buckius both grew up in the American Midwest, Michigan and Illinois, respectively, and met while attending the University of Michigan Stamps School of Art and Design MFA program. Their collaborative and solo work have been shown nationally and internationally.