Video, Vinyl Wall Print, two oversized cotton wool balls, beaded curtain and framed portrait
Be More Brando, Installation view
18 July – 8 November 2015
MOSTYN, Llandudno
Be More Brando
2015, Limited Edition Giclee and Letterpress Print, 42cm x 59.4cm
Be More Brando takes Apocalypse Now, a film well known for its turbulent production, as inspiration. While Brando was publicly scapegoated by Francis Ford Coppola for problems on set including lack of preparation, Brando’s personal archive has uncovered heavily annotated editions of the novel ‘Heart of Darkness’, letters and audio between the two showing that Brando shaped the vision of the film.
Being Brando
2015, Video
Duration: 03`28`
Single Channel, Colour
Aspect Ratio: Variable
Sound: Stereo
Being Brando presents a compilation of Marlon Brando impressions by both fans and professional actors. The range of sources and selection of Brando traits common to most of the impersonations shows the extent to which his performances have disseminated popular culture. Being Brando also pulls at the process of imitation itself as a way to take on another character either through desire to worship or to forget oneself.
Brando Facepalm
2015, Silver Gelatin Photograph, 21cm x 29.7cm
Brando Facepalm is a self portrait taken in the guise of Marlon Brando in character as H. G. Wells’ Dr Moreau. The format of the photograph was initially a riff on the Women’s Art Society exhibition showing concurrently at MOSTYN which presented an image of each participant proudly placed within their rented golden frame. The use of Brando’s Dr Moreau visually reflects the contrast between his God like status and his tragic life.
The exhibition Be More Brando was presented at Mostyn, Llandudno, Wales, UK, 2015
Curated by Adam Carr and Alfredo Cramerotti