The Satire of Media Lies
Andrej Tisma, one of the leading international contemporary artists, works with a variety of artistic media including video art. The main characteristic of his videos is that they are short and, when seen together, explicitly complex.
Contemporary society and changes in the modern world clearly affect his sensibility and manner of artistic expression. Political and social environments, war, social misery, the changing of social systems, disease, and total chaos of the "new order” have clearly made a marked impression on his video work. The United States, as the global superpower in this “new world order”, has had a strong influence on Tisma’s videos, and he reacts through them in a spirited style. He depicts with realistic detail, the situation of individuals in the world which are induced by the will of the mightiest.
The four video works, each about one minute in length, clearly
lead us to the world of media by using TV shows, news items, and historical
and documentary programs. These media collages combine artistic views
of the ephemeral with contemporary ideas and sound as a means
of expression. The video works 'Advertising
Mental Survival', 'Positive
– Negative', 'In
My Room', and 'Watch
Those Bushes' make an integral and spellbinding series.
The world of advertising combined with the intimacy and voyeurism of his
own living quarters in relation to media happenings present the everyday
overflow of glamor and war. The brains of those people who are powerful
enough to regulate the processes of our lives, the cruel presence of death
seen in both war games and computer games--- all of these are plays on
present reality in Tisma's four videos.
Tisma indicates the nonsense and absurdity of those who have been presumptuous
enough to lead the world into some yet-unrecognized-course. What becomes
clear is that there is no humanity, no pity; only human or inhumane feelings.
However, Tisma gives a new dimension via a dark and satirical humor.
An observer of Tisma's videos will undoubtedly be left
with amusement given the satirical imagery and media scenes. He refers
the viewer to historical moments making the documentary with a critical
eye. Tisma overcomes the references and empowers them.
With humor, Tisma discloses the sheer propaganda of the media with
whom world forces are finding excuses for new wars and world dictatorship.
Above all the humor and plays leave a strong impression.
The spirited sensibility of this contemporary artist encourages us and
leaves us with a positive impulse...Telling in his own clear attitude:
be a mental winner.
Biljana Mickov2006