Artist Lecture #1
Preparation Questions
September 15, 2010
Wafaa Bilal
1) How did you decide to approach the issue of Iraq War Casualties as a tattoo? How do your friends/family feel about you paying homage to your brother and other causalities in such a personal way? As the tragedies continue, do you continue to add dots to your tattoo? If so, how regularly?
2) How many images create the composites in the "Human Condition" series? They seem so unreal, where did the images come from for the background? Do the figures in the images know what role they are playing in your symbolic role?
Artist Lecture #1
September 16, 2010
Response
Out of all the lectures I have attended over the years at VCU, this one was probably my favorite. The passion behind Wafaa Bilal's speech and work mixed with his calm, humorous demeanor while discussing such painful and political topics made this lecture a pleasure to attend. Bilal speaks mostly about "dynamic work" defined by him as "a platform in which all possible end-states are unknown." All of his works deal with a series of conflicts that he has categorized as:
Conflict zone vs. comfort zone
Aesthetic pleasure vs aesthetic pain
Virtual platform vs physical platform
The body has its own language
Dynamic Work
My favorite quote from the lecture was probably: "If you either get under people's skin and push their buttons, or just try to educate them, it's a success. Just a reaction is success for an artist."
But there were several other memorable quotes from today, serious and humorous:
I think the most interesting thing I learned about the artist was just the sheer amount of support and hate both going his way during his projects. It's amazing that an artist can generate that much buzz mid-project. My favorite examples of this are (1) the "Virtual Human Shield," a group of Bilal's supporters who banned together to try and block access to the paintball website and spare shots from flying Bilal's way, and also (2) the fact that Bob Murch was removed from office and stands trial for power abuse in direct response to his censorship over Bilal. Bilal's art project's spoke to a huge number of people who didn't just talk about his effect, but took action. It's amazing.
My question about the series with the composite images was not answered, because that series wasn't even shown. And I think I know the answer to my first question. I had many questions about the "And Counting" series, with the back tattoos, and I think they were all answered in his explanation of the situation.
The video game was truly amazing and I feel like it was the most powerful. The artwork itself isn't what blows me away, but the insane reaction to it is mind-boggling. Hearing Bilal describe his reasons behind the project and his struggles to keep it up in galleries was one thing, but hearing the recordings of radio-show call-ins and news footage was just incredible. This was definitely the most powerful of his pieces, to me.
I am interested to see the new work Bilal has in store for us.
Preparation Questions
September 15, 2010
Wafaa Bilal
1) How did you decide to approach the issue of Iraq War Casualties as a tattoo? How do your friends/family feel about you paying homage to your brother and other causalities in such a personal way? As the tragedies continue, do you continue to add dots to your tattoo? If so, how regularly?
2) How many images create the composites in the "Human Condition" series? They seem so unreal, where did the images come from for the background? Do the figures in the images know what role they are playing in your symbolic role?
Artist Lecture #1
September 16, 2010
Response
Out of all the lectures I have attended over the years at VCU, this one was probably my favorite. The passion behind Wafaa Bilal's speech and work mixed with his calm, humorous demeanor while discussing such painful and political topics made this lecture a pleasure to attend. Bilal speaks mostly about "dynamic work" defined by him as "a platform in which all possible end-states are unknown." All of his works deal with a series of conflicts that he has categorized as:
Conflict zone vs. comfort zone
Aesthetic pleasure vs aesthetic pain
Virtual platform vs physical platform
The body has its own language
Dynamic Work
My favorite quote from the lecture was probably: "If you either get under people's skin and push their buttons, or just try to educate them, it's a success. Just a reaction is success for an artist."
But there were several other memorable quotes from today, serious and humorous:
- "I see the artist as a platform initiator rather than someone who imposes ideas on others."
- "Even the refusal to do a political act, is a political act."
- "...but that's what art's supposed to do- it's supposed to inform, it's supposed to educate, it's supposed to be a way of life."
- "And I asked them, 'is there a PETA for Iraqis?'"
- "I thought the Al Qaeda had put out porn- but it was really hunting President Bush... I was so disappointed."
- "I'm a product of their [my parents] dysfunction; I'm the middle child."
- "If you say 'I'm gonna assassinate the president,' you expect the FBI will show up at your door."
- "The Modern Man becomes a Trojan Horse because of technology- there is no safe place. I embrace technology to help raise awareness in a time-efficient way."
- "If I believe in something, why shouldn't I speak out?"
- "By putting a face to the issues it brings people from their comfort zone to see the conflict zone."
- "The project determines the medium, not the other way around."
- "In the end, I just want to raise awareness and encourage others to speak out."
I think the most interesting thing I learned about the artist was just the sheer amount of support and hate both going his way during his projects. It's amazing that an artist can generate that much buzz mid-project. My favorite examples of this are (1) the "Virtual Human Shield," a group of Bilal's supporters who banned together to try and block access to the paintball website and spare shots from flying Bilal's way, and also (2) the fact that Bob Murch was removed from office and stands trial for power abuse in direct response to his censorship over Bilal. Bilal's art project's spoke to a huge number of people who didn't just talk about his effect, but took action. It's amazing.
My question about the series with the composite images was not answered, because that series wasn't even shown. And I think I know the answer to my first question. I had many questions about the "And Counting" series, with the back tattoos, and I think they were all answered in his explanation of the situation.
The video game was truly amazing and I feel like it was the most powerful. The artwork itself isn't what blows me away, but the insane reaction to it is mind-boggling. Hearing Bilal describe his reasons behind the project and his struggles to keep it up in galleries was one thing, but hearing the recordings of radio-show call-ins and news footage was just incredible. This was definitely the most powerful of his pieces, to me.
I am interested to see the new work Bilal has in store for us.
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