Should you laugh at someone else's misfortune? Or use it for your own ends? Who hasn't seen a person suddenly meet with calamity or watched someone make a misstep? When things don't end too disastrously, it can be rather amusing for the observer. No wonder there are countless television programs featuring blunders and bloopers intended to tickle the audience's funnybone. In China, even bad accidents are not taken too seriously at first. The initial reaction to road accidents by passers-by is nervous laughter as an outlet for shock. For an artist, personal misery and tragedy is a direct and obvious source of inspiration. In 1997, Kaljo made 'Loser', a short tape about this. In the video, she stands in front of the camera and makes fun of herself. In 'Pathétique', Kaljo records someone else's miserable situation. We see the artist sitting at a piano playing a Beethoven sonata. Two burning candles lend pathos to the scene. Kaljo then picks up the camera lying on the piano and we watch what she records. It was very cold when she looked out of her window and saw a man lying on the ground in the snow. It also started to get dark. What was going on? Had the man had a mild stroke or was he simply drunk? A couple of times he tries to get up and take a few steps but without success. As the images start to shudder slightly the music also becomes distorted. Seeking support against a wall, the man finally stumbles away. Then the artist comes into view again and we hear rapturous applause. The tragicomedy is over. Kaljo accepts the applause and bows.
– Marieke van Hal |
Camera: Kai Kaljo, Avo Kokmann
editing: Bojan Mastilovic
Kai Kaljo, 1959, Tallinn (Estonia)
Lives and works in Tallinn (Estonia)
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