Karen Mirza and Brad Butler on 'The Exception and the Rule'
During a March 2010 interview with Gemma Sharpe, artists Brad Butler and Karen Mirza elaborated on their collaborative efforts, particularly highlighting their film 'The Exception and the Rule' (2009) and their ongoing initiative, 'The Museum of Non Participation' (2008-present). Shot across Pakistan and India, the film presents a modular narrative that traverses the India-Pakistan border. The 'Museum' originated from residencies at the Vasl Artists' Collective in Karachi, incorporating workshops and public events. In 2009, it was temporarily located behind a barber shop on Bethnal Green Road in London, where the film was screened alongside a library and seminars. Their artistic repertoire encompasses film, installation, drawing, and more.
Key facts
- Interview published by Afterall on 6 July 2006, written by Gemma Sharpe.
- Karen Mirza and Brad Butler run no.w.here in London since 2004.
- 'The Exception and the Rule' (2009) is part of 'The Museum of Non Participation' (2008-ongoing).
- The project was developed over two residencies at Vasl Artists' Collective in Karachi, Pakistan.
- The 'Museum' was established in London in 2009 with support from the Artangel Interaction Programme.
- The film was mostly filmed in Pakistan and India and includes footage of the daily India-Pakistan border ceremony.
- The film incorporates unacknowledged citations, including Vito Acconci's 'Following Piece' and Georges Perec's writing.
- Interview conducted between Karachi and London, March 2010.
Entities
Artists
- Karen Mirza
- Brad Butler
- Gemma Sharpe
- Shai Heredia
- Vito Acconci
- Georges Perec
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Marc Augé
- Dan Graham
- Raj Kumar
Institutions
- Afterall
- no.w.here
- Vasl Artists' Collective
- Artangel Interaction Programme
- Experimenta Film Festival
- Cinema of Prayoga
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Karachi
- Pakistan
- Mumbai
- India
- Bethnal Green Road
- Cairo
- Egypt
- India-Pakistan border
Sources
- Afterall —