Gilbert and George

Synopsis

theEYE is a series of interview-based profiles of contemporary visual artists in Britain. Each film provides a survey of an artist’s work and ideas, featuring the artist in discussion and illustrated by sequences of key exhibitions and installations around the world.

Gilbert Prousch met George Passmore at St Martin’s School of Art in 1967. Since then they have famously lived and worked together as Gilbert & George, creating an extraordinary body of provocative artworks. They have exhibited themselves as "Living Sculptures", documented the banality of their daily lives in London’s East End, and, since the late 1970s, produced vibrant, challenging photographic collages. This video profile of Gilbert & George features a characteristically deadpan performance of themselves. Sex, money, race and religion, they explain, are four themes at the heart of their art. Their interview is complemented by images of many of their works, including the remarkable Dirty Words Pictures made in 1977, together with important collages of the 1980s and 1990s.

Asked if their work, and their personas, are ironic, Gilbert says, " We always think it’s struggle enough to drag something out from inside of ourselves onto that wall without trying to be strange or odd about it." " We wanted to be absolutely painful truth," George adds. "I really believe it has to be painful."

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Series

Theeye, Series

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2002

Year of production

2002

Subjects

Art

Keywords

art - British; Gilbert & George; modern art; performance art; sculpture - British

Credits

Contributor

Gilbert & George

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 0 PAL

Price

£13.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

26 minutes

Year

2011

Distributor

Name

Illuminations

Email

louise@illuminationsmedia.co.uk

Web

http://www.illuminationsmedia.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7288 8400

Address

Studio 121, ScreenWorks
22 Highbury Grove
London
N5 2EF

Notes

Illuminations produces and distributes programmes on arts-related subjects, some of which are made for television and others in conjunction with cultural institutions to accompany specific exhibitions. Many titles are available for sale on DVD, including continuing series on leading contemporary and twentieth century artists and modern architecture, as well as a few programmes on religion, drama, history and ideas.