About the Project
A Selection of New International Contemporary Short Film & Performance Video Works
Africa - Latin America - Asia - North America - Antartica - Australia - Europe
Concept: U.F.O’s concept derives from Platonian metaphysics of the Cave Allegory. For the Being that only knows one side of the world, the shadows on the cave walls, to believe that is all of reality, can also turn to find the light shining against the objects they perceive only as the end of reality (shadows). The movement of objects and people against the light casts shadows in which reality becomes a Melitus Theatre; where different actions happen in different spaces at one time and is given a spectral dimension through light cast on them. With U.F.O. we hope to show that the forms of the human condition through movement and artistry encompass our matrixed realities which are entertwined across spaces and borders. We do not want to fetishise and turn the unknown into the familiar but open spectral exits in crossing borders between art practice, dialogue, image and interactivity by introducing innovative short film works and performances as a domain that embody the Cave Allegory and breaking conventions in order to open inspiring ways of seeing and experiencing.
U.F.O is a time shifting narrative containing elements of meta-fiction and mythology. It considers fresh forms on discourse in negotiating identities. It is a hybrid traveler (spaceman) that blurs the boundaries between art, community, and language.
How it works: In every country the project tours, it will pick up one new artist’s work to showcase during the project’s journey. The chosen artist work (chosen by institution partner curator) will be selected to showcase on U.F.O. on its course and showcase in a final exhibition in New York and South London Gallery UK with a book and CD publication.
The idea is that the works selected will represent current practices in performance converging between video, film, digital photography and installation. The turning concept is that these chosen artists connect with each other and form a network which breaks supposed borders of culture, language and origin. U.F.O. is the unexpected that re-engages with myth and escapes the difficulties of cultural origins whilst encouraging artists to meet and work.
Why Film? Film is immediate, easily transferable and encompasses all of these ideas of different forms and practices into one format that can be easily shared with audiences. We still believe that performance works are very marginalized and least known in contemporary practice. It is currently a challenge for international curators to curate performance works and be familiar in its theories and practice, in this case U.F.O. would like to establish a permanent and easy platform that travels different spaces, uses web technology to further enhance and open dialogues between artists and curators and to share a better understanding about the power of community and learn about each others’ cultural familiarities. We hope this will activate a different understanding about language and border crossings, re-unite collectives to create ways of looking differently at the world and help initiate platforms for creative collaboration across nations, across cultures, beyond borders, beyond stereotypes.
Africa - Latin America - Asia - North America - Antartica - Australia - Europe
Concept: U.F.O’s concept derives from Platonian metaphysics of the Cave Allegory. For the Being that only knows one side of the world, the shadows on the cave walls, to believe that is all of reality, can also turn to find the light shining against the objects they perceive only as the end of reality (shadows). The movement of objects and people against the light casts shadows in which reality becomes a Melitus Theatre; where different actions happen in different spaces at one time and is given a spectral dimension through light cast on them. With U.F.O. we hope to show that the forms of the human condition through movement and artistry encompass our matrixed realities which are entertwined across spaces and borders. We do not want to fetishise and turn the unknown into the familiar but open spectral exits in crossing borders between art practice, dialogue, image and interactivity by introducing innovative short film works and performances as a domain that embody the Cave Allegory and breaking conventions in order to open inspiring ways of seeing and experiencing.
U.F.O is a time shifting narrative containing elements of meta-fiction and mythology. It considers fresh forms on discourse in negotiating identities. It is a hybrid traveler (spaceman) that blurs the boundaries between art, community, and language.
How it works: In every country the project tours, it will pick up one new artist’s work to showcase during the project’s journey. The chosen artist work (chosen by institution partner curator) will be selected to showcase on U.F.O. on its course and showcase in a final exhibition in New York and South London Gallery UK with a book and CD publication.
The idea is that the works selected will represent current practices in performance converging between video, film, digital photography and installation. The turning concept is that these chosen artists connect with each other and form a network which breaks supposed borders of culture, language and origin. U.F.O. is the unexpected that re-engages with myth and escapes the difficulties of cultural origins whilst encouraging artists to meet and work.
Why Film? Film is immediate, easily transferable and encompasses all of these ideas of different forms and practices into one format that can be easily shared with audiences. We still believe that performance works are very marginalized and least known in contemporary practice. It is currently a challenge for international curators to curate performance works and be familiar in its theories and practice, in this case U.F.O. would like to establish a permanent and easy platform that travels different spaces, uses web technology to further enhance and open dialogues between artists and curators and to share a better understanding about the power of community and learn about each others’ cultural familiarities. We hope this will activate a different understanding about language and border crossings, re-unite collectives to create ways of looking differently at the world and help initiate platforms for creative collaboration across nations, across cultures, beyond borders, beyond stereotypes.
