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The first solo exhibition in the UK of the Swedish artist Petra Bauer opened last week at Focal Point Gallery.

Bauer’s show explores the history of UK film collectives from the 1970s and 1980s. Through ‘Me, You, Us, Them’, Bauer’s intention is to re-examine claims made by political filmmakers at this time, and bring the various issues that preoccupied the period’s practitioners into view against the concerns of contemporary artists. Questions such as what constitutes a political practice, the role of the audience, the relation of theory to practice, issues around authorship and auteur theory, collectivity and the concerns of the women’s movement were all vigorously debated and critically interrogated.

In all, there are five distinct elements to Bauer’s project for Focal Point Gallery. Firstly, a new film has been made that takes the form of an interview; secondly, a collection of research material will be shown in the gallery; thirdly, four historical films made by collectives will be presented on monitors; fourthly, two events will be produced in collaboration with local organisations in Southend-on-Sea. Finally, a book will be published after the exhibition has completed its run in June 2010. This publication will contain documentation of the exhibition, as well as transcripts from interviews and the exhibition’s wider series of events.

Focal Point Gallery / Southend Central Library, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, SS2 6EX
Tel: 01702 534108

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