Iraqi Invites the Internet to Shoot Him
What a nice way to spend a relaxing holiday weekend. A beer by your side, a burger in your belly, a ball game on the tube
and the ability to pump an Iraqi full of paint at your fingertips.
Iraqi born Wafaa Bilal has become known for provocative interactive video installations. Many of Bilals projects over the past few years have addressed the dichotomy of the virtual vs. the real. He attempts to keep in mind the relationship of the viewer to the artwork, with one of his main objectives transforming the normally passive experience of viewing art into an active participation. In Domestic Tension, viewers can log onto the internet to contact, or shoot, Bilal with paintball guns.
Its simultaneously one of the most interesting, entertaining and disturbing performance art pieces Ive ever seen. For the next week, viewers can log on to Mr. Bilals blog, aim the camera attached to a paintball gun at (or away from) Bilal, and squeeze off a few rounds. Its kind of like Duck Hunt, but with real people. Good times abound, right?
Not exactly. As Bilal explains in this rather sobering Chicago Tribune piece, he began this project as a response to the U.S. militarys practice of firing rockets at Iraqi targets remotely from places within the United States. He argues that this practice desensitizes its participants to the destructive and terrible realities of war and contributes to American apathy towards Iraqi casualties.
Bilal knows of those harsh realities and mounting casualties all too well.
Wafaa Bilal was born in Iraq on June 10, 1966. Because a member of his family had been accused of disloyalty to his country, Wafaa was denied the opportunity to pursue his dream of being an artist. Instead, he was to attend college to major in geography. While in college, he continued to pursue his art and was arrested and tortured for his political art work against Sadaam Hussein. Shortly after the Gulf War, Wafaa was inspired by President Bushs message to the Iraqi citizens that if they attempted to overthrow Sadaam, the US would stand behind them. He became involved in organizing opposition to the government and was scheduled for arrest and execution when he escaped into Kuwait. There he was accused of being a spy and was close to being shot when his student ID convinced them he told the truth. Wafaa was sent to a refugee camp on the Kuwaiti border.
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In 1992, Wafaa came to the United States and took classes to learn English
Two months ago, his 21 year old brother who was staunchly apolitical lost his life to stray American gunfire. A few weeks ago, he lost his father whose health deteriorated after the death of his youngest son. It has been 14 years since he was last able to see his mother and younger siblings. He speaks to them on the phone to hear how they flee from one war torn city to another in an effort to find safety.
Living under constant fire has clearly taken its toll on Bilal, who seemed a bit frazzled but confident in his day one video blog...
...22 days later, hes on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Bilal speaks of the gun ruling his life. Its hanging over him like the Sword of Damocles and he is paying a steep psychological price for every round. Its enough to make me feel a bit sheepish about the two or three shots I took at him initially and downright terrible for the millions of Iraqi citizens who live under a much more fatal and permanent threat. In that sense, Bilals work here is (pardon the term) right on target.
Perhaps Subrosa will stick to Duck Hunt.
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Chainlink
Key West, FL
August 2005
MAY 30, 2007 07:10 AM
thrash242
Pearland, TX
September 2004
MAY 30, 2007 09:59 AM
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December 2004
MAY 30, 2007 10:08 AM
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Albuquerque, NM
February 2007
MAY 30, 2007 06:39 PM
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Oakland, CA
November 2002
MAY 30, 2007 07:26 PM
teddy__kgb
Albuquerque, NM
February 2007
MAY 30, 2007 07:45 PM
Chainlink
Key West, FL
August 2005
MAY 30, 2007 07:48 PM
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NEWSWIRE
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MAY 30, 2007 07:55 PM
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Germany
August 2004
JUN 01, 2007 02:57 PM
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