The Arts

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Place found at U of M for art work deemed too violent for public display

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 09/4/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

A prize-winning work of student art deemed too violent for public consumption will finally go on view at the University of Manitoba later this month.

Infinite Struggles of Man, a three-minute looped piece of multi-media video art by Corey and Danielle King, will be displayed Sept. 13-24 at the Gallery of Student Art (GoSA) on the main floor of the University Centre building.

In February the Kings were told that their piece had won the U of M's first Tunnel Vision art contest as long as they removed a few seconds that administration officials said contravened the university's policies regarding the depiction of violence.

But the Kings refused to make the alteration.

Danielle King says that UMSU's decision to find an alternate location to show the work during student-orientation week backs their view that the work is not offensive in any way.

The piece blends animation, painting and film. The contested section, "a couple of seconds," King said, involves "a push and kick."

She said the section could not be removed because of the seamless nature of the editing would entail taking out a full minute of the piece's length.

"We disagree that it's violent," said King, 23, who laboured for months on the piece with her husband.

"But it's their tunnels."

University spokesman John Danakas said that all entrants signed a waiver saying their work would meet the guidelines of the university's respectful learning and environment policy.

"The tunnels are a public space," Danakas said.

Danielle King admits that fewer people will see the work in the UMSU gallery than would encounter it walking between classes in the tunnel system.

"This is better than nothing," she said. "We're happy that UMSU is standing behind the work."

Both Kings will be present for the official opening at 7 p.m., Sept. 13.

Danakas says the contest, designed to enliven the campus's tunnel system, will be held again this year.

-- Staff

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 4, 2010 C12

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