Film As A Subversive Art is a new LUX project inspired by Amos Vogel’s 1974 book of the same name (now available at the LUX Shop). It will be one of four curated exhibitions at this year's new-look Zoo Art Fair (London, 16-19 October), alongside projects by Form Content, Studio Voltaire and Rob Tufnell.
The project takes as its starting point Amos Vogel’s 1974 book of the same name. Based on Vogel’s encyclopaedic knowledge of cinema, gathered during his formative years as the programmer of the Cinema 16 film society in New York, the book offers a catalogue of ‘subversive’ film which stretches from the artistic avant-garde to mondo movies. Recently reprinted the book remains tendentious; exhilarating and - above all - optimistic: as Vogel concluded, ‘the subject of this book will always remain on the agenda...these pages are but a rough draft; for the subject of this book is human freedom, and its Guardians, at all times and under all circumstances, are the subversives.’ Taking its cue from Vogel, Film As A Subversive Art will examine the contemporary possibilities and limits of filmic subversion.
At Zoo 2009, five artists will offer responses to the idea of subversion and the moving image. Each day will feature a different installation by one of the invited artists, which will than leave some residue for the rest of the exhibition. Before, during and after the event, the LUX website will include information about all the artists’ projects, reflections on Vogel’s book and debate around the contemporary character of subversion.
Friday 16th Ellen Cantor
Saturday 17th Rosa Barba
Sunday 18th Steve Reinke & James Richards
Monday 19th Francisco Valdés
Film As A Subversive Art has been developed in collaboration with six students from the Curating Programme of the Department of Art, Goldsmiths: Catherine Borra, Soledad Garcia, Elea Himmelsbach, Jenine McGaughran, Valentina Ravaglia and Nina Trivedi.
With thanks to Amos Vogel, Steve Vogel & Paul Cronin.
www.zooartenterprises.com
Copies of Amos Vogel's Film as a Subversive Art are now available at the LUX Shop. | | 
