Istvan Laszlo / Untitled (R89)

Istvan Laszlo
Untitled (R89), Video loop 3’00”, 2007–2009

Romanian artist Istvan Laszlo’s video not only deals with the revolution of 1989, but at the same time it’s about the functionality of human memorisation. Based on a single image he creates a film: a photograph from December 1989, meanwhile an icon, is dissolving more and more. If it is because of dispersed dust or because of a clouded mode of memory stays open. The photo shows a military vehicle, occupied by civilists who are swaying flags and gesturing wildly. They are crowded together, highly agitated, involuntary the painting Medusa’s raft from Gericault comes up to mind (the ikon of the French revolution) and you can hardly hear them scream. Istvan Laszlo’s video analyses the way we relate to history through photo video remakes/documentation and the way that history can be distorted and reinterpreted, understood and misunderstood through photo video documentation. It also comments on the Romanian revolution and the media‘s power to manipulate the masses.

Istvan Laszlo
Born in 1981 in Tirgu Mures, Romania. Lives and works
in Dublin, Ireland and Tirgu Mures, Romania.
Education:
2004–06 New Media Technology College, Dublin,
Ireland 1999–03 University of Art & Design, Cluj, Romania
Solo exhibition:
2002 Grandma in the city, Atash Gallery, Cluj, Romania
Selected group exhibitions:
2009 Preset Adjustments, Plan B Gallery, Berlin ››› Track
Changes, Wilkinson Gallery, London, Great Britain ›››
Portraits of the Artists as Young Artists, andreianamihailgallery,
Bucharest, Romania 2008 Show 1, Plan-B
Gallery, Berlin, Germany ››› On The Spot, Anaid Gallery,
Bucharest, Romania 2006 Darklight, VU Space,
Melbourne, Australia ››› Darklight, Dublin
2004 Art for the masses, Brukenthal Museum, Sibiu,
Romania ››› Art for the masses, Protokoll, Cluj, Romania
››› Biennale de Paris 2003 Docu-Fiction, University of
Architecture, Bucharest, Romania ››› Re:location 4,
Casino Luxembourg ››› Re: location 2, Cluj / Linz,
Austria ››› Inflexible Clash, Institute of Contemporary
Art, Dunaujvaros, Hungary 2002 Coleurs Locale,
Fortress Gallery, Targu Mures, Romania ››› Super Us /
Supernova, Casa Matei, Cluj, Romania ››› Supernova,
Sindan Cultural Center, Cluj, Romania ››› Supernova,
Atash Gallery, Cluj, Romania ››› A.E., Casa Tranzit, Cluj,
Romania