Is That All There Is?

I've curated a screening programme about the failed apocalypse that will be showing at Import Projects in Berlin Friday April 12. The artists involved are David Blandy, Robert Boyd, Chris Dorland, Benedict Drew, Ian James Marshall and Myles Painter.

Is That All There Is? curated by Francesca Gavin
Friday April 12
8pm
IMPORT PROJECTS, Keithstrasse 10, 10787 Berlin

The word Apocalypse comes from the Greek ‘Appo’ and ‘Kalyptow’ – meaning un-covering or un-concealing. The end of the world is thus depicted as a disaster that reveals truth in some form. The veil of banal existence and normality thrown aside. A phenomenon grew around the year 2012, that the world would end or be greatly transformed. The anti-climax following this non-apocalypse is the inspiration for this screening event. The films here examine and reflect our fascination with disaster scenarios, the aftermath of nuclear warfare, the gothic sense of the monstrous that lies beneath our relationship with technology, and the sheer physical desire to watch the world explode. 

All Fall Down

Went to Berlin last week and was completely blown away by a video installation in an exhibition about terrorism and c/o. It was called Xanadu by Robert Boyd. It consisted of an onslaught of images of war, terrorism, violence, rioting, extremism. While surrounded by the images you stand under a pink disco ball and let your barriers down to a disco soundtrack of a remix of Madonna singing 'Dont Cry For Me Argentina' and Olivia Newton John 'Xanadu'. It was one of the best things I've ever seen. My hair stood on end watching it. My sister burst into tears. I couldnt stop repeating Xanadu for 24 hours. I think it might have been one of the most powerful artworks I have ever seen.

Sadly there isnt a good example of the film online so instead here's a second runner up from the same show. Michael Kosakowski's distubring film Just Like The Movies which splices together all the times the twin towers were featured in 80s and 90s TV and film clips. In the exhibition it was shown on a simple TV screen but here it is with live piano accompaniment.