Gangnam for Freedom
Gangnam for Freedom (Eng. " Gangnam for freedom" ) is a video on the internet website YouTube. It was produced by the British sculptor Anish Kapoor. In the video Kapoor dancing in solidarity with the Chinese conceptual artist Ai Weiwei the Gangnam style.
Genesis
On 24 October 2012, the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei published in protest against censorship on the Internet is a parody of the music video Gangnam style. The following day, the Chinese censors deleted the clip. Out of solidarity with Ai Weiwei Anish Kapoor announced plans to turn his own version of the number - one hits Gangnam style. The aim of the video was to fight against despotism and for freedom of expression.
"Our film- AIMS to make a serious point about freedom of speech and freedom of expression. "
Production
The film was shot in Anish Kapoor's studio in Camberwell, a district of Southwark in south London. Below is a list of museums that were involved in the shooting:
- Museum of Modern Art
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- New Museum of Contemporary Art
- Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- Brooklyn Museum
- Serpentine Gallery
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The film was broadcast on the British channel BBC Two on 22 November first time in 2012. Many international human rights organizations, not least Amnesty International had spoken out for participation in the Gangnam for Freedom. A total of 400 dancers, artists and human rights activists were involved in the shooting. The video was officially uploaded on 21 November 2012, the Internet platform YouTube.
Content
In the video scenes from the Gangnam style are parodies. It also contains an image that shows Anish Kapoor in handcuffs. In the final scene is a list of names of detained human rights activists to see.
Reactions
In particular, in the UK there was a big media coverage. So reported the video, among others, the Evening Standard, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, and the BBC. The American newspaper Los Angeles Times reported the video, as well as the French daily newspaper Libération, the Polish news channel TVN24, which was established by the U.S. Congress, non-commercial broadcasting company Radio Free Asia, and the Russian-speaking side of the French international broadcaster Radio France International.
The Chinese-language version of the Wall Street Journal reports that Anish Kapoor's Gangnam for Freedom WOULD much more serious compared to Ai Weiwei parody. Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK, called the video " a wonderful homage to Ai Weiwei ". According to the journalist Roslyn Sulcas in the New York Times the video was clicked shortly after the publication already 60,000 times.