In Defence of the Burning Image. inter media art institute
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Videochannel. Online, 01.11.2021
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Cain Karawahn, Delbrügge & De Moll, Paul Garrin, Nate Harrison, Thomas Kutschker, Franziska Megert
Building on Hito Steyerl’s seminal essay, the poor image is literally and figuratively on fire. A torrent of images crushes whatever it encounters. Its movement leaves traces: uploaded and downloaded, again and again—eventually devoured by green flames.
The image balances precariously between mass media entertainment and the arts. It never fully belongs to either, always an outsider. Industry fetishizes it through seductive, high-quality footage while enforcing uniformity with rigid guidelines. Is the image doomed to an economy of meaningless templates?
When the image escapes standardization, it becomes politically unstable, too volatile to hold for long. Capturing protests, police brutality, and fire, it burns with immediacy and urgency. Its lack of resolution and stability seems to intensify the violence it depicts. The revolution is televised—today, by the thousands—but never without the risk of being unplugged. Even when it is shut off, the image continues to burn, exploding across the screen.
Full programme available online via stiftungimai.de