Questions:
Was working with the model/models for Midwest Olympia challenging (uncofortable, hard to find someone to pose, etc.)?
Is Baiti more of an educational film than a piece of art?
Response:
Quote: "The worst reaction to art is no reaction at all."
Bilal said this in part of an answer to a question from someone in the audience about the seemingly negative reactions he receives from viewers of his art. I've always thought this myself. I've experienced no reactions from artwork I've made, and it's hard to decipher whether your work is unsuccessful, or your audience just doesn't fit when there is not comment whatsoever. I'd rather hear how terrible someone thinks it is than to hear silence.
Three words to describe his practice and artwork:
platform
political
informative
I was surprised to hear at the very end of the lecture that Bilal was forced to leave Iraq because of his artwork about civil rights that didn't align with their government. He was so modest about his courage and perseverance that he made leaving his home country and family for art seem like no big deal.
I don't know the answers to my original questions. My questions didn't seem relevant or important by the end of the lecture.
I found the paintball project to be the most compelling. Not leaving a single room for an entire month is torture enough. Add being continually shot with paintballs to that, and I don't understand how anyone can mentally tolerate that. And it was entirely voluntary...
The more I think about Bilal's work, the more I wonder how satisfied he is with our democratic system. Is America everything he thought it would be? Would he recommend his family live here over Iraq?
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