Thursday 3 April 2008
The origin for the word Slapstick
The origin for the word Slapstick, or "battacchio", used in the "commedia dell'arte, originates from 17th century Italian popular theatre, to make a loud exagerated noice when hitting a performer.
Garry Stevens, Wake up and Hide
Wake Up and Hide is a playful video installation that responds to sounds made by the audience. Comprising two videos in a dual screen projection, each piece shows footage featuring a group of actors in the same interior, a space reminiscent of a drawing room in a stately home. On one screen, the performers can be seen furtively entering the frame from beneath tables and behind curtains, only to scurry away quickly back into hiding when the viewer makes a sound. On the other screen, the performers are stationary to begin with and if uninterrupted for long enough, they slump to the point of wilting completely. If a member of the audience breaks the silence, this relaxation ends and the actors return to their original positions, bolt upright.
LAUGHING IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE, Hayward gallery, 25 January - 13 April 2008
Laughing in a Foreign Language explores the role of laughter and humour in contemporary art. In a time of increasing globalization, this international exhibition questions if humour can only be appreciated by people with similar cultural, political or historical backgrounds and memories, or whether laughter can act as a catalyst for understanding what you are not familiar with.
Laughing in a Foreign Language investigates the whole spectrum of humour, from jokes, gags and slapstick to irony, wit and satire. The exhibition brings together more than 70 videos, photographs and interactive installation works by more than 30 artists from all around the world.
Laughing in a Foreign Language explores the role of laughter and humour in contemporary art. In a time of increasing globalization, this international exhibition questions if humour can only be appreciated by people with similar cultural, political or historical backgrounds and memories, or whether laughter can act as a catalyst for understanding what you are not familiar with.
Laughing in a Foreign Language investigates the whole spectrum of humour, from jokes, gags and slapstick to irony, wit and satire. The exhibition brings together more than 70 videos, photographs and interactive installation works by more than 30 artists from all around the world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)