Bitter Anthems

SPACE Art Gallery, Pittsburgh, (2005)

Video installation

The invention of official music dates from the beginning of the XVIII  century. Works of this kind are baptized “political music” and testify to the aspiration for a tangible collective identity. The usage of choruses denotes the formation of a national collective and is stated by itself. 

I offer six videos based on the anthems “O Canada!” (in French and English), Marseilles (France), God Save the Queen (United Kingdom), Mameli/Novaro (Italy) and the “Deutschland Lied” (Germany). 

The metaphor of “The American Anthem” is positioned between the solitary right of speech and the universal policy to evoke political responses.

 

The performer sings “The Star-Spangled Banner ” in German to the melody of the German national anthem of Haydn.

Karsten Muller – Actor – Germany

The performer sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Italian to the melody of the French national anthem of Rouget de Lisle.

Annie Leroux -Singer – France

The performer sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” in Italian to the melody of the Italian national anthem of Novaro.

John Mingolla -Guide – Italia

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