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Giantbum’, Altermodern, Curated by Nicolas Bourriaud.

Giantbum is a film work developed for the 2009 Tate Britain Triennial. The film originates from an absurdist script written I wrote that parodies religious theology through a narrative in which medieval explorers are trapped inside the body of a giant. The film reflects research into the fiction of François Rabelais’ Gargantua and Pantagruel (1532-64) and Pier Paolo Pasolini’s film Salo. The work also draws inspiration from popular icons of cinema and theatre while making observations about language, cultural appropriation and power structures.

The film is presented as a two channel projection from two versions of the script: a ‘theatre’ version, filmed on stage in an empty theatre and a ‘rehearsal’ version, filmed in a white room in a former East London school. These divergent “demonstrations” display a progressive breakdown of language and undermine its ability to correspond to external reality.

The film is accompanied by a trio of animatronic heads, cast from the lead actor’s face that speak phrases from the script and chant words such as “freedom” and “exit”, echoing the lead character’s evolution into a manipulative leader.

The work was also presented at the Stedelijk Museum Bureau in Amsterdam from 30th May – 12th July, 2009, and Gallery Lombard Fried, New York, 2009, April 17th - May 16th.

On November 12th, 2011, the script was performed by the Brooklyn Youth Company as part of Performa Radio, Performa 11, New York at WNYC's Greenspace.

The Script of Giantbum, formed the basis for the publication, ‘Book A or Megacolon or For & Against Language’, Nathaniel Mellors with John C. Welchman, Mick Peter, Onomatopee 44, ISBN: 978-90-78454-52-6.

Giantbum was co-produced and funded by Arts Council England, South East,

Rijksakademie van beeldendekunsten, Centro Cultural Montehermoso Kulturunea, A Foundation,
Grizedale Arts,
Leeds Metropolitan University,
Lombard-Freid Projects, Matt’s Gallery, London.