Duncan Campbell on DeLorean, Devlin, and the Mediation of History

In a 2010 interview with Tate Modern curator Stuart Comer, artist Duncan Campbell discusses his films 'Make it new John' (2009) and 'Bernadette' (2008). The films examine Northern Ireland's politics through the personas of automaker John DeLorean and activist Bernadette Devlin. Campbell explores how archival documents mediate the past, arguing that the imaginary is inherent in historical material. 'Make it new John' traces the rise and fall of the DeLorean car, built in a West Belfast factory with government support later revoked by Margaret Thatcher. Campbell notes the mythology surrounding the car, amplified by 'Back to the Future', and DeLorean's marketing of an ethical brand. The film's final section, shot by Campbell, reflects workers' refusal to blame DeLorean for the factory's closure, attributing their stance to antipathy toward Thatcher's government. 'Bernadette' focuses on Devlin's political career from 1969 to 1974, highlighting media's superficial interest and her paradoxical iconic status. Campbell aims to open up subjects rather than be definitive, acknowledging his own implication in creating representations. He expresses ambivalence about gallery screenings, preferring a more conscious resolution of the tension between cinema and gallery space.