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3 unusual facts about David Blandy


David Blandy

After gaining an artist’s residency with Grizedale Arts in 2004, Blandy has continued this investigation in his recent Barefoot Lone Pilgrim video/performance pieces in which he integrates real life and virtual adventures.

Intercutting the footage of the "real" journey with segments from films such as "Shogun Assassin" and "Princess Mononoke" and television programmes "Kung Fu" and "Monkey", Blandy weaves together an idiosyncratic tale of self-discovery which is all the more believable for its shifts into fantasy and personal reverie.

Either as a white man mouthing the words to the underground soul classic “Is it because I’m black” in ‘hollow bones’ (2001), or being taught how to make art by the deceased martial arts star Bruce Lee in ‘emotional content’ (2003), Blandy searches for his cultural position in the world.



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