Why Not: A Serenade of Eschatological Ecology /
Description
Written and directed by Arakawa
Narrator: Madeline Gins
Cast: Mary Widow
Music: Toshi Ichiyanagi
Why Not is a surrealistic exploration, by a young female protagonist, of both her psychological and physical realms, shot entirely within an enclosed space of an apartment (Arakawa’s studio).
There are a few notable points of interest around this film. Arakawa was a friend of Marcel Duchamp since his move from Tokyo to New York in 1961, and this film, released a year after Duchamp’s death, indicates a strong influence of Duchamp’s fascination with sexuality and alchemical transformation of the ordinary into the extraordinary. The sober narration is by Arakawa’s partner in art and life, Madeline Gins, and it shows their collaboration in experimenting with poetic language. Lastly, Toshi Ichiyanagi as the music composer for the film casts light on the network of avant-garde artists of the time. The composer lived in New York from 1954 to 1961 and was mentored by John Cage. Arakawa, in his early years in New York, was staying at the Chambers Street studio of Yoko Ono, who was then married to Ichiyanagi. Many Japanese artists were in New York around the time and were active part of experimental movements in the city and they continued to create avant-garde art internationally in succeeding years and decades.
Description provided by the Reversible Destiny Foundation
Creation Date
1969
Format
16mm
Run Time
01:50:00
Components (0)