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The number of reports of sexual abuse of children has risen to such an extent in the last few years that people have started to react with incredulity or even mirth. But not every child pornography story proves to be a myth. Even less is sexual abuse only a recent phenomenon - the media interest, which borders on sensation, however, is. Performance en graphic artists, Paul McCarthy and Mike Kelley made a diptych in 1987 about a father who abused his son which was entitled 'Family tyranny/Cultural soup'. This time they try to discover the true circumstance surrounding the experiences of Heidi, her grandfather and her little pal Peter using half a carnival shop. Not that there is much to laugh about - if that proves to be the case, the viewer will get over the laughter soon enough on his own. McCarthy and Kelley let scenes run so long that the perversities no longer shock: they become normal. And this getting used to something is precisely the danger of long term abuse. Victims of such acts of indecency know all about this. Mike Kelley has previously worked with such video makers as Bruce and Norman Yonomoto (Kappa), Tony Oursler (Evol) and Ericka Beckman (Blind Country). In these productions too, performances and anatomically correct dolls played an important part. Both the makers consider Heidi more as a total work of art than as a video production. Decor and properties were exhibited along with the tape in the Krinzinger gallery in Vienna where the recording was also made.
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André Nientied
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Camera: Peter Kasperak, Editing: Clemens Böhm, Sound: Ferdinand Cibulka, With: Paul McCarthey, Mike Kelley, Tim Martin, With thanks to: Ursula Krinzinger, Charlotte Reif-Sucher, Hanno Milessi, Ludwig Gerstacker, Angelika Katzlberger, Marion Delke, Bogdan Winnicki, Boris Kemper, Pae White, Kelley Mason, Anita Pace, Hubert Schober, Gregor Zivic, Production: Peter Kasperak, Galerie Krinzinger
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