LleidaWhat is the meaning of life? To what extent are we free? Who controls the world and how? Can we dream of a better world, or do we live in a nightmare? Is there room to confront everything we consider unjust?
These existential questions and others were on my mind as soon as I left the Screenbox this weekend. I had just seen the newly released adult animated film. DecoratedMasterfully directed by Alberto Vázquez. Being the only spectator in the theater (without the constant flashing of cell phone screens that would otherwise ruin the experience) surely contributed to my complete immersion.
The film's seed is its own eponymous short, a clever and subversive little gem that premiered at Animac in 2017. The kind that leaves you in a state of shock and nourishes your critical spirit, wow! With touches of dark humor, satire, and high doses of drama and horror in the purest Kafkaesque style, the feature not only lives up to expectations but expands its universe with a fierce critique of contemporary society, the inhumane and violent capitalist system, and the abuse of power. Without offering obvious answers and with a multitude of possible interpretations, the film reveals that beyond being "wandering puppets," it is necessary to live with eyes wide open. And perhaps (just perhaps) there can be a ray of light, a way to "escape the system."
Numerous collectives question the imposed system, rebelling and standing up to injustices and impositions, both social and bureaucratic. One of them is the Promethea Artists Association, which, after many months of uncertainty and obstacles, has seen the light at the end of the tunnel, demonstrating that they do not bend to institutional control and reinforcing their core principles, according to which "art is a tool for social transformation." Thus, at the beginning of October, a brand-new phase began in which Promethea inaugurated a new independent and self-managed community space, while also presenting their fanzine and exhibition. David versus Goliathwhich can be visited until December 19.
This exhibition explores and rethinks "the myth of David versus Goliath, beyond its religious context," from a rich array of perspectives, feelings, nuances, and artistic disciplines. The dozen participating artists denounce, as Decoratedthat "it is no sign of good health to be well-adjusted to a sick society," and that "a stone well thrown by a brave hand can change the course of destiny." Armed conflicts, the genocide suffered by the Palestinian people, human rights violations, and the rise of extremist ideologies and megalomaniacal leaders are some of the themes the collective explores in depth. A series of creative works that aim to be "a cry of resistance against imposition, where the human spirit rises" and it becomes possible to dream of a better world.
