Pre-code Forecast
1931 is an engaging new exhibition of paintings, photography and film by Durban
queer artist Andreas Chasomeris. The title encapsulates the major themes that Chasomeris
has been exploring in relation to History, Censorship and Cinema. The date of
1931 is significant because this period of time was fascinating as the Great
Depression (1929-1935) was being felt around the world, Cinema in both Europe
and specifically Hollywood was embracing the progressive nature of society,
however the stark realities of the era gave rise to what is now considered
Pre-code Hollywood (1930-1934), technological innovation of sound (1927)
heralded a new dawn of talking pictures and films like Josef von Sternberg The Blue Angel (1929)
and Shanghai Express (1931); Reinhold Schünzel’s Viktor
und Viktoria (1933). These films are but a few of the examples that
became evidence later by the Production code of the fear of the screen in corrupting
and destroying the public, these films were labelled as Vice pictures and by 1934
with the Catholic League of Decency promised to eradicate any disgusting,
immoral and vice ridden representations off the screens.
Chasomeris personal
response from a critical evaluation based on the past documented histories and
the present lived experience of being a queer artist in post-Apartheid South
African context.
As an educator with
a passion for film, art and history, he firmly believes in order to understand
the possibility that our potential future holds is deeply entrenched in the
narratives of the past.
The exhibition
includes influences of Art Deco, Marlene Dietrich, Weimar Republic, Jean
Harlow, Busby Berkeley musical numbers, Cole Porter and a touch of Agatha
Christie.
This exhibition closes on Saturday, 23 May at 2p.m.
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