Several television sets in Gallery 101 display Matlabi’s political and artistic thoughts
( Photo: Christopher King )
Terrorism, Democracy, Leisure: as the title suggests, the current exhibition at Gallery 101 is not just a show of art. It’s also a show of political thought and criticism.
The exhibition flows through these three ideas, showing how they have been woven together to shape our society.
The first work shows the artist, Afshin Matlabi, proudly singing different countries’ national anthem. He cut many of the frames to capture the facial expressions as he tries to appear nationalistic.
Leanne L’Hirondelle, the director of the gallery, said Matlabi explained it as trying to convey the feelings of pride and belonging that people have while singing their national anthems.
“Nationalism in some ways erases the idea of people universally belonging to a bigger thing,” she said, adding that with the cut frames, the viewers see each expression and how it “ends up looking ridiculous yet painful at the same time.”
Next is a video that flashes between depictions of many flags, with the words occasionally flashing on the screen: “United Fuckin’ Nations.”
It changes to another video, this time with the flags for each American state. Similar message: United Fuckin’ States of America.
“The way that we live is based on our consumption and our taking advantage of other countries that don’t necessarily have the same resources as us,” said L’Hirondelle, explaining many of the pieces’ messages.
She points to the American government going into countries in the name of morality “but then it comes out later that we’re actually just here because we want their oil.”
The biggest piece uses a variety of media to display a swarm of anatomically incorrect United Nations members rushing towards a fountain too small for them all to wash their bloody hands.
The last piece of artwork, Ballistic Missile Outing 2, shows a Caucasian man and woman leisurely soaring beside a launched missile.
The work portrays the negativism that comes with taking vacations especially to developing countries, L’Hirondelle said.
“When you’re in a position that your lifestyle exploits other people and other cultures, I think you have to be really conscious of that and I don’t think that you should play into it,” she said.
Ironically, she explained that most of his paintings are photographed in and depict Cuba because that is Matlabi’s vacation spot.
The exhibition runs until April 11.