Jesper Just, 'No Man is an Island II', 2004. Video still. Courtesy of Perry Rubenstein Gallery
This is the last Hirshorn post- I promise.
About a year ago the Hirshorn initiated its Black Box series- a gallery on the lower level between the bathrooms and West of the lockers (which were unfortunately painted white and are no longer a 1970's rainbow of rectangles) that is devoted to contemporary video. Right now they're showing two pieces by Jesper Just, an artist from Copenhagen who "creates short films distinguished by their quirky scenarios and meticulous production techniques. His vignettes focus on juxtapositions: age versus youth, son versus father, loneliness versus detachment, macho camaraderie versus suppressed eroticism, connection versus ostracism, and bravado versus melancholy."* I'll buy that. The two videos are powerful- especially "No Man is an Island II"- it takes place in what is a very familiar locale to anyone who's paid attention to contemporary photography's preoccupation with Crewdson-esque fashion spreads but leads to something much, much more powerful. It's a little like having the guys from the movie Beautiful Girls perform at Club Silencio in Mulholland Drive- but better.
It's perfect.
2 comments:
amen. it was fabulous.
amen! it was fabulous.
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