Peggy Ahwesh does not shun controversial subjects in her work; indeed she often intends be provocative. The inspiration behind '73 Suspect Words' was the Unabomber Manifesto of 1995, the so-called 'Terrorist Group FC', which admitted responsibility for a series of bomb attacks. It was a manifesto of 35,000 words in which its author Theodore Kaczynski — apparently only one person was involved — set forth the dangers of science and technological progress for society. It was written by a man who held the American nation at ransom with threats of new attacks if his text was not published, and it put a bomb under the freedom of the American press. In a low-key manner Ahwesh shows us seventy-three different words, terms and names which occur in the Unabomber Manifesto. It seems that she wishes to refrain from comment. Individual words or names appear in white letters against a black background and they are always positioned in the centre of the screen. You could set your clock to them: the regularity of the succession of words does not alter; their rhythm is not disrupted. But Ahwesh does deliver her comments. Certain words, such as 'leftism' appear on the screen more than once. Sometimes they succeed each other, sometimes they are alternated with other terms. A menacing kind of music can be heard in the background. Every once in a while Ahwesh adds a term of her own, such as 'techno potlatch'. Simplicity and cadence, broken only by the repetition of words and ominous music. What is it that makes these words so suspect? Leftism, oversocialisation, Anthony Lewis, tolerance, modus vivendi, NAFTA, Claude Shannon... Apart from the fact that they originate in the same place, how do these words and names connect? Ahwesh seems to want to demonstrate that, once removed from their original context, words and expressions actually lose their connections, and (can) take on completely new meanings. Seventy-three words from the text of a 'terrorist' are harmlessly corrupted and turned into art.
– Anita de Groot |
Text: Unabomber Manifesto
Sound: Ess, Peggy Ahwesh
Thanks to: Keith Sanborn
Peggy Ahwesh, 1954, Pittsburgh (USA)
Lives and works in Brooklyn (USA)
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