Using a similar principle to that of his films, in the installation, ‘Members Only’, Arnold proposes an experimental review of the gag. In this case, however, the audiovisual material is provided not by black and white Hollywood films but by cartoons. Thanks to his manipulation, the innocence of the images is replaced by a succession of histrionic and violent actions. The characters are fragmented and mutilated, set against a completely black background. Hands that twist, tongues that move, mouths that articulate meaningless words… Here, the harmless original scenes are transformed into creepy or disturbing phantasmagorias, full of frustration and aggressiveness, which, in some cases, also contain a disconcerting erotic urge.
Arnau Horta is an independent curator, art critic and researcher. In Spain, he curated projects for the MACBA, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, the CCCB, Sónar, Caixafòrum, the Filmoteca de Catalunya, the philosophy festival Barcelona Pensa and La Casa Encendida, among others. He is Professor at the European Institute for Design (IED), and a usual contributor to the supplements ‘Cultura/s’ (La Vanguardia) and ‘Babelia’ (El País).
22 March 2017