Charles Atlas retrospective at The Kitchen showcases video art legacy and live performance
Charles Atlas's exhibition, titled 'the past is here, the futures are coming,' was held at The Kitchen in New York from March 28 to May 13, 2018. This retrospective showcased video art spanning four decades, featuring the 1986 mockumentary 'Hail the New Puritan,' which starred dancer Michael Clark. Notable aspects included Atlas's position as consulting director for Art21 since 2003, where season two monologues highlighted personalities such as Merce Cunningham and John Waters. Significant installations comprised 'The Years' (2018), a five-channel piece addressing HIV/AIDS losses, and '2003' (2018), which intertwined portraits of collaborators with footage from the Iraq war. The live performance 'The Kitchen Follies' incorporated drag and dance, reflecting Atlas's innovative approaches to dance documentation and video artistry.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'the past is here, the futures are coming' ran March 28–May 13, 2018 at The Kitchen in New York
- Charles Atlas served as consulting director for Art21 television series starting in 2003
- Featured video works spanning 40 years including 'Hail the New Puritan' (1986) with Michael Clark
- Installation 'The Years' (2018) organized Atlas's oeuvre across four decades on five channels
- Installation '2003' (2018) combined portraits of collaborators with news footage of Colin Powell and Iraq strikes
- Live performance 'The Kitchen Follies' included drag, dance, vogue, and community theatre with Atlas manipulating live video
- Atlas was resident filmmaker for Merce Cunningham Dance Company
- Work 'Rainer Variations' (2002) documented Yvonne Rainer teaching 'Trio A' to drag performer Richard Move
Entities
Artists
- Charles Atlas
- Merce Cunningham
- Margaret Cho
- John Waters
- Michael Clark
- Yvonne Rainer
- Richard Move
Institutions
- The Kitchen
- Art21
- Public Broadcasting Service
- Merce Cunningham Dance Company
- ArtReview
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Iraq