Julia Loktev

Date: 16 May - 28 June 2003

Julia Loktev (1969, lives and works in New York) is a filmmaker. Characteristic for her work is the way in which she melds documentary and fiction. This also applies to her presentation 'Public Knowledge: Private Parts'.

'Rough House' (2001)
co-written by and co-starring Julia Loktev and Vito Acconci

The story of the film unfolds on two screens, obtusely angled towards each other, like two arms stretching out to pull the audience into the on-screen action. We see a man and a woman who beat each other up. Physical fights are followed by intimate moments and conversations. There is no clear victim and no clear aggressor. The audience is caught in-between, between two lovers and between two screens.

'Said in Passing' (2000)
reality and fiction in the New York subway

A city's subway system is public space in perpetual motion. A constantly shifting no man's land inhabited by people on the move. Five video projections form one long image showing different women riding the New York subway. Their voices can be heard on headphones across from each projection. The women - some actors, some friends and acquaintances of the artist - present themselves in short announcements. Do we get to know who they are or who they would like to be?