Computer animated words form a three-dimensional funnel. As you see the words passing by, turning, you can read: “Down with the government that starves us!” Seen in conjunction with the title, the symbol of anarchism, the intent should be quite clear. Kantor has changed tack since his trilogy 'Jericho – Babylon – Nineveh', now devoting himself to direct political action. But we do see here the same old Kantor ingredients that dominate his other works: singing drag queens and mechanical performances of steel on steel in furious cadence. For a moment it calls to mind Kantor's bureau performances. This time it is a executioner wearing a black cap and energetically working a metal contraption. In this video, perhaps because of its conciseness, Kantor has found an even greater balance in composition and the use of computer animations. They roll in strips through the image, or form a green grid that makes up the borders of artificial space. There is also a scratch scene of children in a shelter who are sitting round a table drumming with tin plates, mugs and cutlery. Repetitions of image and sound and musical montage provide an enjoyable beat. Hence the subtitle of this segment: 'Lunch Time Manifesto'. Fragments of text make clear that Kantor, in his indignation, finds himself in a piteous maelstrom in which 'cultural genocide' easily becomes entangled with cutbacks in relief for disadvantaged young people. The comment that accompanies the cutlery rap: “Maybe you can dance to it” , is perhaps meant to be sarcastic, but it could just as well be an ironic gesture gone astray sighing about the fact that it is a little late for anarchistic resistance.
– Willem van Weelden
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Computer animation: Dariusz Karnicki, Editing: Darren Jennekens,
With: Jubal Brown, Monty Cantsin, Louise Liliefeldt, Julie-Andrée T, Tanisha Robinson, Tina Strange,
Thanks to: Krista Fry, Ghera, Michel Giroux, Trinity Recreation Centre/Parent–Child Room
Istvan Kantor ° 1954, Surany (Hungary)
Lives and works in Toronto (Canada), New York (USA)
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