Karen Mirza and Brad Butler's 'Deep State' Video Blends Political Protest with Art Historical References

The 45-minute HD video 'Deep State' by Karen Mirza and Brad Butler intertwines historical art references with leftist political themes. It opens with a burning television displaying the word 'occupy,' alluding to David Hall's 1971 work 'TV Interruptions (7 TV Pieces),' accompanied by riot scenes and a defaced poster of Meryl Streep portraying Thatcher. An abstract narration by China Miéville connects the artists' political and artistic pursuits. The film features archival protest footage, presenting images of damaged vehicles and masked individuals. Performative segments reference their 2012 video 'Hold Your Ground' and Owen Land's 1970 piece 'Remedial Reading Comprehension.' Protest visuals from the Egyptian art-activist group Mosireen are included. Mirza and Butler received the Jarman Award in 2012, hinting at a possible future broadcast. This article was published in the January/February 2013 issue of ArtReview.