Israeli artist Guy Ben-Ner plays the lead role in his own films, which even in their seemingly spontaneous, documentary moments are in reality artfully constructed performances. Since 1999 Ben-Ner’s films have revolved around comical settings or ironic interpretations of literary works, and they often feature allusions to classic films. For his latest work, Drop the Monkey, the artist enters into a dialogue with himself, between his Berlin self and his Tel Aviv self, actually filmed in both cities. In this way, Ben-Ner creates his own genre: the film performance. At heart, however, as in all 11 films covered in this exhibition catalog, he reflects on his own identity and on the borderline between art and life, which he constantly seems to cross – even when this step is itself merely another staged element in his work.

Editor: Edith-Ruß-Haus für Medienkunst, Sabine Himmelsbach
Authors: Ingmar Lähnemann, Sabine Himmelsbach, Susanne Hinrichs
Artists: Guy Ben-Ner

Softcover
24 x 30 cm
96 pages
92 color ills.
German/English
available
ISBN 978-3-86828-117-0
18,90 Euro
2010