The Black Dahlia evokes the torture and murder of Elizabeth Short who was found dead on 15 January 1947 in Los Angeles, California. The body of the 22-year-old woman, who was referred to in the media as The Black Dahlia, was found on a piece of wasteland in the Leimert Park neighbourhood. Her body was badly mangled and bisected at the waist, her mouth was slit open from ear to ear. Numerous thrill seekers and weirdos ‘confessed’ to the murder, more than 150 suspects were questioned, but the crime has not been solved to date. The unsolved murder does continue to inspire numerous artists, filmmakers, writers and even video game creators.

There are two photographs of Elizabeth Short in heavy, rough wooden frames. By rotating first an old record player, later an electric motor, two kitchen knives are moved back and forth over the photos via drive arms, as if to cut the rough wooden frame containing the photo of The Black Dahlia in two halves.