Carlos Motta at ICA Philadelphia
2004 artist-in-residence and Swing Space grantee Carlos Motta is currently showing at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in Philadelphia.
Carlos Motta, The Good Life, video still
Tegucigalpa, Honduras, 2005-2008
CARLOS MOTTA: THE GOOD LIFE
January 18 - March 30, 2008
INSTITUTE OF
CONTEMPORARY ART
University of Pennsylvania
118 S. 36th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
From the Press Release:
The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is pleased to present “Carlos Motta: The Good Life,” the first museum presentation of an ambitious work by Carlos Motta, on view January 18 - March 30, 2008. “The Good Life,” a long-term, in-progress, experimental documentary project, engages and critiques documentary practice itself. It is a relevant examination of the regional history, perception and effects of US interventionist policies in Latin America, at a time of global critical awareness of those politics.
Since 2005, Carlos Motta has recorded over 300 video interviews with civilians on the streets of twelve cities in Latin America. The questions he asked, on individual perceptions of US interventionism and foreign policy, democracy, leadership, and social inequality, resulted in an extremely wide spectrum of opinion, which varies according to local situations and forms of government in each country. The resulting footage is the basis of “The Good Life.” Informed by conceptual documentary traditions the project references the approach of cinema vérité classics such as Chris Marker’s Le Jolie Mai (1963) and Vilgot Sjöman’s I am curious (Yellow) (1967), which began to study the notion of public opinion as mediated construction.
In this iteration, created for the Project Space, Motta’s interviews with persons in Bogota, Buenos Aires, Managua, Mexico City, Santiago and Tegucigalpa, serve as both a conceptual and formal framework. Arranged in an open structure that evokes a classical space for the exercising of democracy, these conversations shed light on the effects of political intervention, and the public perception of political concepts, on the formation of national and individual subjectivities. The exhibition also comprises a series of accompanying photographs, shot during visits to each city, and a takeaway poster featuring texts commissioned from artists Ashley Hunt, Naeem Mohaiemen and Oliver Ressler; and political philosopher Maria Mercedes Gómez that answer the question, “What is democracy to you?”
Related Events:
Conversation: Carlos Motta and Ann Farnsworth-Alvear
February 27, 7PM
Join us for a conversation between historian Ann Farnsworth-Alvear, director of Penn’s Program in Latin American Studies, and artist Carlos Motta, as they discuss their respective explorations of Latin American history and politics through scholarship and art.
Workshop: What is Democracy to You?
March 7 - 9, 1PM
In conjunction with this exhibition, artist Carlos Motta and curator Stamatina Gregory will lead a three-day workshop with a group of interested participants. Together we will approach the question “What is democracy to you?” from a variety of perspectives in an attempt to create a set of meanings, responses, problems and solutions around this concept. If you would like to participate, can commit to all sessions, and have ideas to contribute, let us know why this question is important to you (one page or less) at sgregory@upenn.pobox.edu by February 20. The program is limited to 10 core participants, who will be selected to represent a diversity of opinions and interests. This event however is also open to the general public.
