Wafaa Bilalrsquo;s childhood in Iraq was defined by the horrific rule of Saddam Hussein; two wars; a bloody uprising; and time spent interned in chaotic refugee camps in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Bilal eventually made it to the United States to become a professor and a successful artist; but when his brother was killed by an unmanned U.S. Predator drone; he decided to use his art to confront those in the comfort zone with the realities of life in a conflict zone.His response was “Domestic Tension;rdquo; an unsettling interactive performance piece: for one month; Bilal lived alone in a prison cell-sized room in the line of fire of a remote-controlled paintball gun and a camera that connected him to Internet viewers around the world. Visitors to the gallery and a virtual audience that grew by the thousands could shoot at him twenty-four hours a day. The project received overwhelming worldwide attention and spawned provocative online debates; ultimately; Bilal was named Chicago Tribunersquo;s Artist of the Year.Structured in two parallel narratives; the story of Bilalrsquo;s life journey and his “Domestic Tensionrdquo; experience; Shoot an Iraqi is for anyone who seeks insight into the current conflict in Iraq and for those fascinated by interactive art technologies and the ever-expanding world of online gaming."Once I picked up this book; i could not put it down. There is something so urgent and compelling about Bilals story; as though he is speaking to our time. His story is not just for those interested in the arts; it is a human story of the horror; frustration; and tragedies of war." mdash;Mary Flanagan; artist and author of re:skin"This is an unsettling and gripping book. It poignantly recounts a dark and imaginative experiment inspired by an excruciating and ghastly reality. Its unsettling effects couldnt be more welcome: we desperately need to be shocked out of our collective zombification; and this book does that by leading us through a wild labyrinth at once aesthetic; political; and existential. Potent stuff." mdash;Danny Postel; author of Reading "Legitimation Crisis" in Tehran"Who in their right mind would allow the internet to shoot at them? Shoot an Iraqi: Art; Life; and the Resistance Under the Gun tells the story of Wafaa Bilal. When his brother was killed by an unmanned Military device during the Iraq war; Bilal took it locked himself in a room; a camera showing him to the world with a remote controlled paintball gun connected to the internet; in the name of art and political statement. Bilal explains himself quite well; making Shoot an Iraqi fascinating reading." mdash;Midwest Book Review"Weaving together accounts of Iraq and America; art and violence; performance and reality; past and present; this gripping account all but shakes the reader by the lapels." mdash;Publishers WeeklyIraqi-born artist Wafaa Bilal has exhibited his art worldwide; and traveled and lectured extensively to inform audiences of the situation of the Iraqi people; and the importance of peaceful conflict resolution. Bilals 2007 dynamic installation "Domestic Tension" gained global recognition; being named Artist of the Year by the Chicago Tribune. Bilal has held exhibitions in Baghdad; the Netherlands; Thailand and Croatia; as well as at the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago; the Milwaukee Art Museum and various other US galleries. His residencies have included Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga; California; Catwalk in New New York; and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
#1480483 in eBooks 2009-09-14 2009-09-14File Name: B00EHNZ592
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Classroom RecreationBy Dr. Cristina Rodriacute;guezDr. Barrientos was my professor. Reading his book I was able to recreate the environment of the classroom. A must for theatre lovers!