Omer Fast
Godville
07 September - 23 October 2005
inIVA Institute of International Visual Arts
6-8 Standard Place, Rivington Street
London EC2A 3BE
www.iniva.org
Godville
Omer Fasts first UK solo exhibition
A BSL translator will be available between 3- 4pm, Sunday 18 Sept. (Please book in advance)
Unmoored and floating somewhere between past and present, re-enactment, fiction and life – lies Colonial Williamsburg, a town preserved as an eighteenth century living-history museum in Virginia, USA
Exhibited at inIVA (Institute of International Visual Arts) this September, Godville a new installation by artist Omer Fast, presents two-channel video portraits of the resident re-enactors of this town.
Interviews with men and women of varying social standing and origin; democrats and republicans, property holders and day labourers, militants and housewives, part-time revolutionaries and slaves dip in and out of character. Continuingly slipping between their two personas and times, they discuss everything from day to day life to the Revolutionary War and the Iraq war.
Using familiar sources of reference, which engage with the viewer – Fast plays with time, memory and location with a multilayered elegance, which is both subtle and humorous. Pre-occupied by the complexities of media, with Godville, Fast explores the way contemporary documentary filmmaking misrepresents ordinary peoples lives and in the process distorts history. In the past his work has also delved into the narrative of television news reportage and Hollywoods treatment of social history.
Born in Jerusalem and based in Berlin, Fast is considered to be one of the most innovative video artists working today and inIVA will be presenting his first UK solo exhibition. inIVA (Institute of International Visual Art) is the cultural venture capitalist of the contemporary visual arts world, often serving as a catalyst for change. Risk taking on cutting edge artists and ideas on a global scale, inIVA delivers an exciting programme of exhibitions, educational events, multimedia projects and publications.
To celebrate the opening of the inIVA exhibition Omer Fast has produced Richard, Digital C-Print, 2005. This limited edition print of 50 will be available from inIVA.
Omer Fast is part of inIVAs Atlas season of exhibitions and events that map ideas and experiences largely drawn from uncharted territory. inIVA is considered to be the venture capitalist of the contemporary visual arts world – investing in culturally diverse artists and cutting edge ideas. inIVA produces an important programme of exhibitions, educational events, multimedia projects and publications.
Supported by Arts Council England
Dates: 07 September 23 October 2005
Private View: 06 September 2005
Venue: inIVA, 6-8 Standard Place, Rivington Street, London EC2A 3BE
Opening Hours: Wednesday Saturday: 12 – 6pm. Sunday 18 & 23 October 12-6pm
A BSL translator will be available between 3- 4pm, Sunday 18 September (Please book in advance)
Information: 44 (0)20 7729 9616 / www.iniva.org
Admission: Free / Wheelchair access
Underground: Old Street / Liverpool Street
