Sean Kelly is delighted to present Blue Orchids (2017), a new film directed by artist Johan Grimonprez. This will be the first presentation of Blue Orchids in the US and will be Grimonprez’s first exhibition of new work at the gallery since 2009. The opening reception will take place on Thursday, January 26 from 6 - 8 pm. The artist will be present.
In Blue Orchids, Grimonprez creates a portrait diptych of two experts on opposite sides of the same issue––the global arms trade. The stories of Chris Hedges, the former war correspondent of The New York Times, and Riccardo Privitera, a former arms and equipment dealer of Talisman Europe Ltd (now dissolved), provide an unusual and disturbing context for shocking revelations about the industry of war. In the process of interviewing individuals for Grimonprez’s recently released feature length film, Shadow World, it became clear that these two men were describing the same anguish but from paradoxical perspectives. One has dedicated his life to unmasking lies and the other has built his life on lies. Making use of both their personal and political histories, Grimonprez gradually reveals the depths of trauma and duplicity, situating the arms trade as a symptom of a profound illness: greed.
Don't miss | blue orchids | (2017, 48 min) and Raymond Tallis | on tickling (2017, 8 min), two new films by artist Johan Grimonprez. In blue orchids, Grimonprez creates a portrait diptych of two experts on opposite sides of the same issue––the global arms trade. The stories of Chris Hedges, the former war correspondent of The New York Times, and Riccardo Privitera, a former arms and equipment dealer of Talisman Europe Ltd (now dissolved), provide an unusual and disturbing context for shocking revelations about the industry of war. In the process of interviewing individuals for Grimonprez’s recently released feature length film, Shadow World, it became clear that these two men were describing the same anguish but from paradoxical perspectives. One has dedicated his life to unmasking lies and the other has built his life on lies. Making use of both their personal and political histories, Grimonprez gradually reveals the depths of trauma and duplicity, situating the arms trade as a symptom of a profound illness: greed.
blue orchids is immediately followed by Raymond Tallis | on tickling. In this short film Philosopher/Neurologist Raymond Tallis argues that consciousness is not an internal construct, but rather relational. Through the intriguing idea that humans are physically unable to tickle themselves (despite applying the exact same stimulus to the skin as another person would), Tallis explores the philosophical notion that we become ourselves only through dialogue with others.
Screenings begin on the hour, every hour, starting at 11am Tuesday through Friday and 10am on Saturday.

Opening Reception: Thursday, January 26, 6 - 8pm

mpefm USA art press release