Paul Chan

Two digital video works by Paul Chan engage us in the dual passions that are at the center of his world: art and political activism. Happiness (finally) after 35,000 Years of Civilization—after Henry Darger and Charles Fourier combines the utopian visions of 19th-century social theorist Fourier with those of the 20th-century reclusive self-taught artist Darger. Chan's allegory overlays Fourier’s hedonistic social philosophies with animated images based on Darger's fantasies of garden worlds populated by armies of surprisingly pugnacious little girls, each of whom sports a full set of male genitalia. The characters frolic in a bucolic landscape, playfully indulging in every human physical desire only to confront a group of armed men in a battle scene. Enigmatic, arguably absurd, Happiness envisions a world in which utopian visions collide. In Now Let Us Praise American Leftists, Chan has developed a visual index of social activism using FACES, a type of computer modeling software used by law enforcement to create digital sketches of suspected criminals. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the artist attempts to fashion a more inclusive collective portrait of generalized types: the Black Panther, the Industrial Unionist, the May 12 Activist, the AIDS activist, and many others.

Selected Bibliography:

Horowitz, Mikhail. "Utopian Blues: Paul Chan’s Digital Visions and Political Actions Are All of a Piece." The Bardian, Spring 2004, 26–27.

Kerr, Merrily. "Theory: Recuperating Revolt." Flash Art, no. 236 (May–June): 106–9.

Saltz, Jerry. "Babylon Rising." Village Voice, September 10, 2003.

Smith, Roberta. "A Grand Finale of Group Show Fireworks." New York Times, July 18, 2003.

Yablonsky, Linda. "Regarding Amy." Time out New York, July 10, 2003.

Links:

Flash Art

nationalphilistine.com (artist’s website)