 Amanda Beech FALK "A young wife in a Scandinavian town, a new and unexpected baby and the threat to everything he stands for is on the line. How could a stranger's death in far-away Miami have anything to do with a situation like this? He knew the mysterious forces that pervaded the operations, and the dangers he faced in his detection of undercover political games. Chased, stalked, watched. When vital evidence is being withheld - or even faked - and a sadistic killer is at large, he knew he couldn't succumb to political pressure, or press harassment. He went in eyes open. Practical and efficient. When such a man is convinced there is no stopping him. He knew it would be a battle for his life." (Amanda Beech, from the essay Car Squeeze, FALK, published by MOT international 2006) Amanda Beech will complete the current cycle of exhibitions at MOT by premiering her latest video work, FALK, 2006, espousing her interest in the relationship between democracy and violence in neo-liberalism. Beech utilises the private thoughts, covert actions, particular interests and certain histories of key players, at the heart of Norway's post-war past and its present politico- economics. She delves into evidence of a scandal that implicates government, corporations, the mafia, terrorists, federal, national and state agencies and the police. Using footage shot in Norway, Beech overlays a populist narrative styled text to biography the actions of a central protagonist, the lone conspiracy theorist as he uncovers his own "Watergate". We also enter the mind of his undefined pursuer. As a result of this juxtaposition the audience is left to piece together the evidence, decide between fact and fiction, documentary and narrative. Throughout, the work is infused with the underlying language of fear emanating from the heart of suggested international corruption. We become confused as to who is hunting down who and the reality of truth, as the evidence is projected at us under the guise of culture. The protagonist becomes artist, the artist the protagonist and the media savvy audience becomes implicated, the plot can only thicken. This is Chapter 3 of "An Exhibition in Three Chapters", in which three artists were asked to present a single work as a solo exhibition, author a small publication and initiate the loan of a Library collection to be housed at MOT. Amanda Beech has initiated a loan from Tower Hamlets Library services in the form of a collection of unwanted books, specifically "Airport Novels" that the libraries dispose of, if unread for over two years. Beech has collaborated with Roman Vasseur on a 48 page book, FALK, published by MOT international that accompanies the exhibition and acts as a sub-text to the work on show. Chapter 1 was by Matthew Thompson and chapter 2 was by Stephen Willats. Publications are available for each chapter. "An Exhibition in Three Chapters" is curated by Chris Hammond. Exhibition: 16 December - 27 January 2007 Gallery hours: Fri-Sun 12 - 5 pm or by appointment MOT Unit 54/5th floor Regents Studios 8 Andrews Road GB-London E8 4QN Telephone/Fax +44 (0)20 7923 9561 Email info@motinternational.org www.motinternational.org |
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