The Third Guangzhou Triennial will run from September 6th to November 16th, 2008. Curators are Gao Shiming, Sarat Maharaj and Johnson Chang Tsong-zung. For the curatorial discourse of this Triennial, we propose to say "Farewell to Post-Colonialism". This represents the theoretical basis from which we hope to explore our critical vision.
The Third Guangzhou Triennial Beijing Station (UCCA) will exhibit video works of more than 30 international artists, the themes of which can be divided into two units: Mid-east Channel and Africa Cinema.
23 mid-east artists will present their video works in "Mid-east Channel" unit, focusing on the concept of Experiemental Documentary, as well as exploring the passoin and dreams buried in this geo-politically sensitive region. Channel Manager: Khaled D. Ramadan (Lebanon)
Introduction
Middle East Video Channel
A screening file on the line of experimental video and short documentary
The wider theme of the Middle East Video Channel is to be found in the notion of exploration, the search for characteristic independency and memory in contemporary Middle Eastern video culture.
Independent video and experimental documentary coming out of the Middle East have proved to be major contributors to the visual and cultural arena in the region, which is largely due to the major technological developments that have occurred globally during the last 20 years.
Freelancers and independent video makers are constructing their own rules of engagement and shaping a new contemporary visual order in this geographical space we call the Middle East. They have managed to expand our understanding of the social and political fabric of the Middle East through their aesthetic concerns and critical and analytical approaches. This expansion has happened simultaneously with the booming of the Arab satellite TV stations and with the deconstruction of Cairo's monopoly over the Arab film industry. Hence, several new media production centers and independent video makers have emerged in countries like Algeria, Egypt, Palestine and Lebanon but also in Iran and Turkey.
A characteristic of this category of aesthetics has been the extensive use of historic and socio-political texts and narratives, as well as antique-like and readymade footage and photography. Another characteristic is the tendency to interact with the surroundings, which makes this genre commit itself to complex contemporary political and socio-cultural issues.
Video as message transmitter
The Middle East Video Channel presents how Middle Eastern video makers tackle, view and reconstruct their memories, reality and virtuality, how they define their sociological truth and how the use of new media influences their artistic practices.
All videos selected are deeply concerned with social change. They could be said to be seeking to explain or deepen our understanding of certain elements of society. Manoeuvring on the borders of the traditional documentary form, many works are deeply conscious of the truth which they represent.
The program "Middle East Video Channel" mainly focuses on categories like sociological/anthropological video trends, short illustrative documentary and video as a tool of political activism. It also deals with autobiographical videos, testimonial interviews, archival footage, and socio-political issues with the aim of altering, de-authorizing and deconstructing the limits of experimental video and documentary from the region.
Independently-funded experimental video and investigational artistic documentary are in the spotlight of our Middle East Video Channel. Therefore we wish to present and help articulate the aesthetic context of this type of video making and explore the characteristics of its expansion.
All videos in the Middle East Video Channel are works of video and documentary makers from the Middle East with the exception of a few international artists who work with the Middle East as their subject matter.
Khaled D. Ramadan, Research Curator, Beirut, 2008
Screening List
1) Sep 12, 16 and 18
10:30-10:38
Third Vision: Around 01:00 pm by Khaled Hafez, 7m31s
10:38-11:00
Asmahan by Hisham Bizri, 21m20
11:00-11:33
Verticcs by Hisham Bizri, 32m43
13:00-14:09
Objets De Guerre by Lamia Joreige, 1h09m
14:10-14:45
July Trip by Waël Noureddine, 35m
14:46-15:09
In between Walls: Israeli Voices of Dissent by Shula Lipski, 22m34s
15:10-15:11
Somebody Else’s Car by Ahmet Ögüt, 30s
15:11-15:13
Cut It Out by Ahmet Ögüt, 2m
15:14-15:16
Not far From Here by Mireille Astore, 1m30s
15:16-15:21
Red Door by Hamed Sahihi, 4m10s
15:22-16:50
With Open Eyes by Yasmina Ben Ari, 1h28m
16:50-17:07
Defending Denmark by Wooloo Productions, 16m50s
17:07-17:19
The 7th City by Nanna Guldhammer Wraae, 12m
17:20-17:55
Caution! Comment Ahead by Dalia Al-Kury, 35m
17:56-18:04
And Life Goes On by Reem Bader, 8m
18:05-18:19
One in a million by Nadine Khan, 14m
18:20-18:28
IFTAR by Ayman Ramadan, 8m
2) Sep 14, 17 and 19
10:30-11:00
In this House by Akram Zaatari, 30m
11:01-11:51
The Beautiful land by Kaya Behkalam, 50m
11:51-12:07
Rubble Road by Alia el Bial, 16m
12:08-12:18
Lebanon/War by Rania Stephan, 9m23s
12:18-12:42
Who’s afraid by Shahram Entekhabi, 24m
12:43-12:49
Golden Guns by Shahram Entekhabi, 6m23s
12:50-13:04
MAKING OF THE WALL by Gülsün Karamustafa, 13m42s
13:04-13:22
Mobile War Zones by Larissa Sansour, 17m30s
13:22-16:14
Resistance(s) Silke Schmickl / curator(17pieces of video，172m)
