With an introduction by Hila Peleg.
“A Crime Against Art” is based on a trial staged at an art fair in Madrid in February 2007. The trial, inspired by the mock trials organized by André Breton in the 1920’s and 30’s, playfully raised a number of polemical issues in the world of contemporary art: collusion with the “new bourgeoisie”, instrumentalization of art and its institutions, the future possibility of artistic agency and other pertinent topics. The trial begins with the assumption that a crime has been committed, yet its nature and evidence are allusive and no victims have come forward. The testimonies and cross-examinations become an attempt by the judge (Jan Verwoert) to unravel the nature of the mysterious “crime against art”. Set as a television courtroom drama and filmed by four camera crews, the six-chapter serial presents a condensed 100 minutes version of the trial.
Production: unitednationsplazastudios, Berlin
Director: Hila Peleg. Based on the “Madrid Trial” by Anton Vidokle and Tirdad Zolghadr
Camera: Michel Balague, Eric Menard, José Joaquin Silva Sevilla, Angel Castillo Pascual
Editors: Eric Menard, Hila Peleg
Cast:
Jan Verwoert as the Judge
Anton Vidokle & Tirdad Zolghadr as the Accused
Chus Martinez & Vasif Kortun as the Prosecution
Charles Esche as the Defense
Maria Lind as the Expert
Setareh Shahbazi as the Artist
Anselm Franke as the Witness
Special contribution: Liam Gillick
Format: DV PAL, 4:3, Color
Running time: 100 min.
Language: English
Impressions of the event by Sandro Mazzoni
Location: STADTKINO BASEL (Klostergasse 5)
Admission: 12.-/for members of the Kunstverein Basel 6.-
Afterwards: Bar