The film Constructio Infernalis is the most recent collaboration between Swiss visual artist and New York film director Gary Breslin. The slowly increasing horror of the film is employed as a metaphor for failed architectural utopias of Modernity. By combining the projection of the film with an installation that recreates parts of the film's set, the exhibition develops a strong power of suggestion.
Constructio Infernalis
müllerdechiara is pleased to announce Christoph Draeger's upcoming exhibition Constructio Infernalis opening January 22 featuring his new film and installation.
The film Constructio Infernalis is the most recent collaboration between Swiss visual artist Christoph Draeger, and New York film director Gary Breslin. The film was shot on location in Sao Paulo, with an entirely Brazilian cast and crew. Featuring rising star Paula Zwicker as the school girl Lucia, and Brazilian horror film legend Zé do Caixao (Coffin Joe) as the vagrant. A psychological horror thriller reminiscent of The Shining, Constructio Infernalis is a short film (30 minutes) that uses modernist architecture as a tool for exploring mental terror and insanity. The slowly increasing horror of Constructio Infernalis is employed as a metaphor for failed architectural utopias of Modernity.
Christoph Draeger has been working for past 10 years on issues of catastrophe, destruction and violence. This latest project explores the genre of mass culture (horror film), with references to Brazilian contemporary culture, subculture and clichés often associated with Brazilian society. The analysing method is the simulation: he is creating a model of a possible horror film by filming with a professional crew and playing with Hollywood aesthetics. By combining the projection of the film with an installation that recreates parts of the film's set, the exhibition develops a strong power of suggestion. Draeger fulfils our expectation of horror films and breaks its common narrative structures at the same time.
Image: Christoph Draeger: Constructio Infernalis, 2005 Video Still (Building)
With generous support of Pro Helvetia and Ytong.
For further information please contact Sonke Magnus Muller at the gallery. Tel.: +49-30-39032040
Opening on January 22nd at 6:00 pm
mullerdechiara
Weydinger Strasse 10 Berlin
Tuesday  Saturday, 12:00  7:00 pm