The Screening of ‘Empire II’ in The Pavilion Downtown Dubai’s Cinema

The film ‘Empire’, shot in 1964 by Andy Warhol and Jonas Mekas is a silent, black and white, 8 hour and 5 minute long film that lacks a traditional narrative or characters. The passage from daylight to darkness becomes the film’s only plot, with the protagonist played by the iconic building that was the tallest in New York City and the world, The Empire State Building. ‘Empire II’ is the continuation of the Warhol work: creation of non-media as media, film as non-film. The film was shot on July 27th, 2010 and presents the Burj Khalifa, the current holder of that title, from 6.35 pm until 12.02 am.

Just as in the 1964 film, the film’s narrative rotates around the light of the day and the leading role is awarded to the current tallest building in the world. Insignificant details such as blinking light mark the passage of time: 5 hours and 27 minutes of film in colour and sound. ‘Empire II’ was filmed on July 27th and thirty-seven years later shot on location by David Payton, Lohra Ydna and Andre Orione.

This film will be screened on Monday July 4th at 7:30 pm in The Pavilion Downtown Dubai’s cinema – a perfect setting given the view that looks out onto the iconic building. Brusselssprout Editor-in-Chief Ignacio Gomez and filmmaker Camille Mallat will introduce the film and “Empire II” will continue to be screened everyday throughout the month.

THE PAVILION DOWNTOWN DUBAI
is the city’s newest dedicated non-profit contemporary art space providing a place to view, discuss and participate in works by local and international artists. Developed by the multidivisional group Cultural Engineering, The Pavilion is a unique hub for a diverse range of art events offering a platform to promote an active arts community to the public and to support the work of a rising generation of artists in the region. The Pavilion’s programming will reinforce its role as a place for artistic discourse, research and education. The building itself reflects a unique interior that supports a dialogue between art and its audience. The Pavilion includes two art galleries, a restaurant, a cinema, a library, an espresso bar, a shisha café and lounge.

BRUSSELSSPROUTS
is a curatorial magazine on emergent art published from Dubai and aims to become an open, independent and alternative platform offering free content related to the artistic and cultural world. It strives, with the help of the curatorial endeavors of artists and projects that can contribute a different layer to the ever more monopolized and homogenized artistic scene. The first three issues set up a Dubai Manifesto by chapters: Dubai Manifesto 1/3 “The Game is not over”, Manifesto 2/3 “Renovating Dreamlands” and Dubai Manifesto 3/3 “Graphic Encyclopedia”.
http://www.brusselssprout.org