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Paul Chan Screening

March 6, 2008, 6:30pm / Fillip, Western Front Exhibitions, and Centre A are pleased to present Brooklyn-based artist Paul Chan’s Tin Drum Trilogy, a three part experimental critique of 21st century American politics, at Centre A, 2 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, followed by a discussion and reception.

The three videos of the trilogy are:

Re: The_Operation (28 Minutes, 2002)
Based on a set of drawings that depict members of the George W. Bush administration as wounded soldiers in the war against terrorism, Re: The_Operation explores the sexual and philosophical dynamics of war through the lives of the members as they physically engage each other and the “enemy.” Letters, notes, and other textual ephemera written by “Bush” and others are narrated and accompanied by digital snapshots from around the world as they articulate the neuroses and obsessions that drive them toward infinite war.

Baghdad In No Particular Order (51 Minutes, 2003)
Baghdad In No Particular Order is an “ambient” video essay of life in Baghdad before the American invasion and occupation. Videographed by Chan and a host of Iraqis working with Voices in the Wilderness, a Nobel peace prize nominated activist group working in Iraq to stop the drive for war, the film intimately portrays Iraqis singing, dancing, and struggling as they await the coming of another war. Subtitled in seven languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish).

Now Promise Now Threat (33 Minutes, 2005)
Part documentary, part visual manifesto, Now Promise Now Threat uses Omaha, Nebraska (population 390,000, literally located in the middle of the U.S.) as a site and subject to follow the often unexpected lines connecting people, religion and politics in “red state” America. An evangelical pastor opposes the mixing of church and state on religious grounds. An anti-abortion mother deplores the hypocrisy of the pro-life movement for being pro-war. A young man wants to die for his country so he can—at last—have a life worthy of living. Now Promise Now Threat mixes interviews with locally produced footage and kidnapping videos from Iraq transformed into fields of undulating color to create a moving “apologia” for the united red states of America.

This screening is presented in conjunction with the release of Chan’s poster project, Untitled (Behold, I show you a mystery), included as an insert in Fillip 7. Chan’s poster relates to the artist’s recent series of works, The 7 Lights (2005–07), digital animations that explore themes of religion, utopian thought, and their manifestations and transformations within contemporary life, and follows other print projects by the artist, notably Baghdad Snapshot Action (February 2002 and April 2003).