Martin Skauen.

Slideshow Johnny

Date: 2012
Length: 18:00 min.
Format: 16:9
Specifications: Colour, Sound, Single Channel
Courtesy Laura Bartlett Gallery

In his video, Martin Skauen shows the life and creative activities of Johnny, a fictional artist. In six episodes an unkempt young man appears and presents his scurrilous works in various ways – as a slide show, an appearance on stage, a philosophical writing session in a toilet, or a pseudoscientific experiment. Images and words appear in unusual combinations and strongly influence the public’s perception and reaction. The use of canned laughter, reminiscent of a sitcom, turns the viewers into part of a fictional audience and encourages them to become involved in what is taking place. As the episodes unfold, the viewer witnesses a gradual change in the relationship between the artist and his public. With the addition of material from other sources, the original situation develops from  a small scale performance to an esoteric spectacular with an almost worshipful horde of spectators.

The content and point of reference of the video refer to current trends and media appearances of our time and prompt us to think about the impact of the media nowadays. The variability of people’s cheerfulness and the unpredictable logic of the masses is held against the artist’s attempts, now helpless, now exalted, to meet the tastes of the masses.

Jacqueline Knöll

Interview:

► 1. Your work has been chosen among over 2000 festival entries to participate in VIDEONALE.14. In which context do you prefer to present your work, festival/cinema context or exhibition? And what kind of difference does the respective mode of presentation mean for you / your work?

I think the video presented at the Videonale could work well in the context of both a festival/cinema and a more standard exhibition. The work plays with the situation of a live performance in various places, where also the audience and their feedback is a vital part. It may seem that the work belongs in an exhibition setting, as it reflects, to some degree, upon art itself and the process of artistic practice, but I try to keep the references on a not too specific level, hoping they can serve as metaphors for a broader interpretation.

► 2. Art can be seen as a mirror that registers and reflects life or as a tool that transforms it. Is there a particular theme, concept or problem your art addresses the most?

I`m interested in the suspension of reason and the seeking of sense and meaning within the irrational. The work can be read in terms of the Surrealist strategy of rupture and discord; my subjects are located directly between ordinary experience and pure chaotic contingency.

► 3. In which way is the video medium an excellent possibility to express your intended subjects, especially in contrast to other media you use? Or do you work exclusively with video?

I work with different kinds of mediums, with a focus on drawing. The drawings often interrelates with the video work. I`ve made several works using drawing as the only source for the video, but in my latest videos the drawings are less present.  In general my work has strong narrative structures and video is a perfect medium to create virtual spaces for my stories. Video has an interesting room for experimentation, where the process is more playful and the result less pretentious.

► 4. If you have the chance to ask the visitors of the VIDEONALE.14 exhibition questions about your own work, what would be your question?

Do you think this work will be talked about in a thousand years?