May 12, 2006
Robert Boyd: Xanadu
Robert Boyd: Xanadu
On view at Participant, Inc. through May 14.
by Mikal Saint George
Apocalypse – though definitely not inevitable – does have an alarming number of proponents. They wear many costumes. Robes and turbans - sometimes even the blue of Nostradomasus’ now famous vision. Some are military uniforms displaying a kind of haute couture chic reminiscent of Mugler at his fabulous ’80s zenith. Most chillingly they are often Hugo Boss suits and more and more -- Levis in the suburbs. In Robert Boyd’s XANADU we are reminded that atrocity happens not with random acts of disorder but with the agreement of many and the willingness of not only the aggressor but to a weird degree- the victim. Savior is easy, almost cheap. But destruction is so much darned fun – not to mention profitable. Keep in mind death will most likely come on a dance floor.
Boyd’s video journey through time and history is a horrific Disney-esque thrill ride accompanied by an Ecstasy laden, cocktail dripping, zipless fuck disco beat. So many statements so little time! Pop culture has numbed us to the profanity that exists everywhere around us. Zealots we are reminded were actually a Jewish sect that chose to take their own lives rather than surrender their freedom to the Romans. This was most made famous in the 1981 TV mini series MASADA. God what a Heather Locklear vehicle!
Xanadu is something to watch because we too often sip Merlot while watching manufactured images of Gangsta finery praise bitches, hoes and pimps oblivious to the fact that our world is disintegrating around us. Olivia Newton John simply can’t be the soundtrack to our future!
On view at Participant, Inc. through May 14.
PARTICIPANT INC | 95 Rivington Street | NYC
www.participantinc.org
Posted by Trigger Magazine at May 12, 2006 2:06 PM Permalink
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