William Raban
Description
72-82 curated by Claudia Shneider
The first ten years of the groundbreaking London arts organisation Acme are explored through rarely seen archival film and new interviews.
Raban’s bold new film continues his ongoing examination of London’s stratified social geography by exploring a fertile, creative scene in which he played a significant part. Solely using archival visual materials, he revisits the first ten years of art organization Acme, highlighting its work in housing artists in the East End and the extraordinary work that was produced. The powerful archival footage incorporates Stephen Cripps’ pyrotechnic displays, an abrasive Anne Bean music performance and Stuart Brisley’s politically charged action ‘Ten Days’. Interviewees include: Cosey Fanni Tutti, Jock McFadyen and David Critchley. Raban reflects on the nature of ‘evidence’ while a very particular vision of creative activity emerges – one based on devoted experimentation, location specificity and process.
– William Fowler
About
Born 1948, Fakenham. BA painting, Saint Martins School of Art 1971; MA (Fine Art) Reading University 1974. Manager of London Filmmakers Co-Op Workshop 1972-6. Published bi-monthly Filmmakers’ Europe 1977-81. Part-time senior lecturer in Film at Saint Martin’s School of Art 1976-89. Reader in Film at University of the Arts, London. Member of editorial board Vertigo film magazine.
“The films mirror the processes of production constructing the reflexive space in which the audience can be directly engaged.”