Upward Mobility Press Release

A cursory look at the apparatus that controls public flows in a city reveals its main function to regulate a type of dislocation primarily horizontal in orientation. Deterrence is often employed to persuade someone not to cross a particular threshold. A different rhetorical device is employed to manage vertical movements. Rather than 'keep out,' which is the case in the former case, we find 'out of reach' as the message of the latter. Like a home that is reorganized to protect small children from touching the wrong things, the city also places some things beyond the reach of its undesirable dwellers.

In contrast to the invisible horizontal line drawn by everyday movements in the city, this video shows a person in the pursuit of vertical deviations from this norm. Several situations depict attempts to move up in spaces like a bus stop, a telephone booth, a building marquee, cracks on a wall that lead to a window, among others. The character of the actions varies from that of a playful childish game to a teenage prank to a burglar break in to a protester stunt, that is activities that have in common the pursuit of unusual routes of action. Recorded in New York and London, this video will be presented at the Institute of International Visual Arts in London. A conversation about the current project and a prior interview with Alex Villar by Øyvind Renberg and will be available at the Online Printhouse.

text from newsletter_13.pdf

Footage filmed in New York and continued in London, "Upward Mobility" is a film specially made for this show. As the "Interview with Alex Villar" shows, a correspondance between director Øyvind and Alex has been developing since 2001. And his work was shown in Copenhegen as part of our participation in Contemplation room. (click here for the online documentation)

Download the newsletter made in relation to Alex's piece from
http://www.online-printhouse.com

Alex_Villar_interview_a4.pdf: direct download click here
INTERVIEW WITH ALEX VILLAR BY ØYVIND RENBERG
Conducted over the internet Aug. - Nov. 01, Oslo/New York
© Øyvind Renberg/Alex Villar 2002

newsletter_13.pdf: direct download click here
Alex Villar with DM at inIVA, documenting the making of "Upward Mobility".

Alex Villar's site: http://www.de-tour.org

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"Upward Mobility" is going to be shown in apextart, new york.
The Danger Museum Newsletter#18
A conversation between Simon Sheikh and Alex Villar, on the occasion of the showing of Villar's "Upward Mobility" at apexart. Download available from 4th JAN 2003 from www.online-printhouse.com

Walking in the City
Curated by: Melissa Brookhart and Jill Dawsey
January 4 - February 1, 2003
Public opening receiption: Saturday, January 4, 5-7pm

apexart
291 Church Street New York City, U.S.A
http://www.apexart.org