Godville
Godville
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 people’s lives
and in the process distorts history. In the past his work has also delved into the
narrative of television news reportage and Hollywood’s 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 inIVA’s 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
Private View: 06 September 2005
inIVA
6-8 Standard Place, Rivington Street, London
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)
Admission: Free / Wheelchair access