Sermon
One Channel Video installation
“When I was in Berlin in May 2004, I met by coincidence, a German named Charlie, also known as “The King of Mice”. Mr. Charlie’s distinct physical appearance, his opinions about the world and Germany, and his 400 mice that he takes care of, provoked me to ask him for an interview. The interview took place at his home among his mice, on Wednesday, the 21st of May, starting at 13:00 p.m. until 17:00 p.m. The background sound of the piece was recorded during the Islamic Morning Prayer in Damascus”.
The installation is inspired by “Holy Friday Sermon” tradition that is meant to guide and advise people how to live within the principles of Islam, but instead is used in some places and situations as a tool to manipulate the younger generation of Muslims. Sermon studies various representations of the act of "preaching”, manifested in the trappings of power: the cliché of the bearded “wise-man” and the large-scale projection of his personal manifestos. The screen towers over a Plexiglas pen inhabited by mice who are subjected to the sermon. The old man trapped inside his screen with his hostage audience of mice obliviously roaming in the pen, amplifies the pointless exchange.
Details:
Installation consists of one rear projection surface, a transparent Plexiglas cage, 100 albino mice and three active speakers.
Duration: 00’35’00 min. (Loop)
Screening format: DVD - all
Original format: Mini DV
Revised by: Oliver Kalleinen
Sound design: Stephanie Damm
Translated from German to English: Sanna Jokinen
