Oliver Ressler
Artist and flimmaker
Born in Knittelfeld, Austria, in 1970, lives and works in Vienna.
Artist Statement
In my artistic work, I analyze and criticize power relations in our
current society, but I seek to go beyond a simple analysis and
criticism. Several of my works focus on forms of resistance found in the
so-called counter-globalization movement and in the emerging social
movements that fight the response (or non-response) of states and
corporations to climate change. My projects deal with major issues and
include valuable information, but transcend a simplistic delivery of
content. Who speaks is of big importance to my work; speakers
are often grassroots activists or workers usually not listened to by
anybody. These people share a passionate commitment to overcome the
current capitalist system.
Resistance can only succeed when people struggle for a common goal.
If people resist the economic and political system, ideas must be
developed on the specific forms of an alternative and more democratic
society. Mobilization goes hand-in-hand with projecting a utopia. When
conceiving new models for alternative formations of society and economy,
a central role should be played by principles such as self-government,
self-management and direct decision-making. In contradiction to what
corporate media try to make us believe about Venezuela, the country has
well developed forms of popular participation in direct decision-making.
Thus, in recent years, my work has focused on the Bolivarian Process in Venezuela.
I do my work within the field of art, but at the same time, I need to
go beyond and not to limit my work only to the art world. Therefore, my
films are available for presentations by activists. The art scene was
not at all connected to most screenings of my three films on the
counter-globalization movement, or my three films on the political
processes in Venezuela. Therefore, my work blurs the boundaries between
art and activism. I also produce posters, billboards, billboard-objects,
and magazines that intervene directly in public urban spaces and
address political issues through different methods. These works attempt
to support progressive social processes and to contribute toward a
change in society.
Social change can only be achieved in cooperation with other people;
this is also reflected in my own work, which is often done in
collaboration with others. Over the years, I have worked with the
artists Zanny Begg (Sydney), Ines Doujak (Vienna), Martin Krenn (Vienna), Gregory Sholette (New York), David Thorne (Los Angeles) and the political scientist Dario Azzellini (Caracas/Berlin).
Source:
www.ressler.at/biography