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Comic Battle, 3 channel synchronised HD video with sound, by Common Culture, 2008

‘Comic Battle’ is a 3 channel synchronised HD video with sound by Common Culture (I. Brown, D. Campbell, M. Durden). The ‘stand-up ’ comedy routine is a familiar device for the reflection and analysis of human relationships. Delivered as a popular form of entertainment, the comic’s observations are driven by their own social experience; informed by a sense of who they are and how they relate to a world they share with their audience. Their ‘local’ views on the ‘big’ issues of relationships— sexuality, race, class and politics— mark their stories as funny and potentially insightful.

In Comic Battle, three individual comedians are filmed competing against each other in a ‘stand- up’ battle. Filmed delivering their routine in an ambiguous performance space, each of the three comics simultaneously present their act to camera. The comic’s routines are determined by a list of topics given to them by Common Culture, each performer delivers his own version of a joke, battling to out do the other performers. This work is part of a body of work that uses forms of comedy to challenge issues related to identity and the complexities of cultural divisions, including the art world. A book Tips For Artists, was commissioned for the exhibition Now I Gotta Reason at Jerwood Space, London curated by Grizedale Arts and Marcus Coates.

Commissioned for EV+A 2008 –Too Late For Vacation, curated by Hou Hanru Limerick, Ireland 7th March - 25th May 2008

Exhibited as part of Tales from the Trophy Room a Common Culture solo exhibition at Solar Galeria de Arte Cinematica Um espaco em Vila do Conde, Porto, Portugal 19.09.2009-22.11.2009.