Manifesto: a present-day call to action
Contemporary Art | Manifesto, a multi-screen work by german artist Julian Rosefeldt, revives various historical manifestos from the 20th century Western avant-garde; revealing their invigorating relevance in the 21st century.
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Julian Rosefeldt. Manifesto, Park Avenue Armory, New York, Décembre 2016 – Janvier 2017
© Photo: James Ewing Photography © Park Avenue Armory, 2016
Manifesto is an installation consisting of 13 films which are simultaneously shown on 13 screens, creating different sorts of “horology complications” throughout the exhibition area. The films feature Australian actress Cate Blanchett who plays 13 different roles, each one represents an archetype of contemporary society : a homeless man, a school teacher, a trader, a scientist, a TV presenter, a choreographer…
Each scenario by Julian Rosefeldt follows the same protocol : Cate Blanchett interprets a monologue that reassembles several types of artist manifestos from avant-garde history. The voice of the actress restores the transgressive value of art and questions, regardless of time and space, our notions of architecture, economy, pioneer societies… Surrealism, Situationism, Dadaism, Marxism, Futurism, all gather on one single platform. Blanchett’s performance summons the artists and their manifestos, turning them into the films’ main characters.
The emblematic installation is on tour around the world, it has been screened at the Australian Center for the Moving Image in Melbourne, at the Museum für Gegenwart in Berlin, at Park Avenue Armory in New York, and is currently exhibited at the Beaux-Arts de Paris.
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