BIENNIAL '95
In the catalogue essay for the third ICA Biennial of 'Independent' Film
and Video the guest 'curator' John Wyver states that
'... In the mid-1990s in Britain there is no independent film and video
culture.'
This comes as a shock to the EXPLODING CINEMA (London), THE HALLOWEEN SOCIETY
(London), LOOPHOLE CINEMA (London), THE KINO CLUB (London), PEEPING TOMS
(London), VISION COLLISION (Manchester), EXPLODING CINEMA (Brighton), THE
FREAK SHOW (Brighton), SMALL WORLD (Oxford) and all the other UNDERGROUND
media groups and NO BUDGET film/video makers who have created the thriving
D.I.Y. cinema circuit.
Nevertheless undaunted by the non-existence of INDEPENDENT FILM AND VIDEO
Wyver goes on to re-define it not as an economic or political practise but
as a 'TRADITION', a tradition which is alive and kicking thanks to the benevolence
of the state funding agencies and the enlightened television companies.
Presumably this is why out of the 26 works in the Biennial only 2 do not
receive some kind of State or TV funding.
Seems like the term INDEPENDENT as used by John Wyver and the ICA is open
to interpretation.
Like ....'INDEPENDENT' of no/low-budget film/video makers, 'INDEPENDENT'
of all democratic access and consultation or 'INDEPENDENT' of box office
or critical success.
Well we at the EXPLODING think that since the term 'INDEPENDENT' has become
so MEANINGLESS the ICA should drop it in favour of...
THE ICA BIENNIAL OF STATE FUNDED FILM AND VIDEO.
FORGET THE CUTTING EDGE
WE'VE GOT THE SELLOTAPE
