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 alien nation
 to access audio and video on collective you need real player.Space invaders at London’s ICA. Genre fiction often embodies the fears and concerns of the time it was written. The gothic horror stories of the late-19th century related to issues around suppressed sexuality and scientific advance, science fiction often embodied the fears of nuclear and cold war. In recent years, however, a new generation of artists has grabbed onto sci-fi imagery and alien fantasies to explore issues around race and difference. This inventive work has now been brought together at Alien Nation, the ICA’s best exhibition for years. Golden Horde by Hew Locke and Untitled (Types) by Laylah Ali (both detail). “Science fiction provides a means – often witty and surprising – to talk about our (sometimes) irrational fears of those who come from different places, look different or represent different world views to our own,” curator Gilane Tawadros notes. “This is not just about racial difference but also religious, ethnic or political difference.” Alien Nation brings together an inspiring selection of sci-fi inspired work, shown in the context of old black-and-white films like The Quatermass Experiment, Orson Welles’ War Of The Worlds radio play and 50s film posters. Pieces range from Marepe’s Christmas baubles transformed into a sea of alien creatures to Hew Locke’s kitsch war vessels made from children’s toys, to David Huffman’s brilliant comic-like wall paintings and wood panels of white spacemen waging war on black ones.  Untitled by Marepe and Dysfunctional Family by Yinka Shonibare (both detail). As Tawadros points out, sci-fi films repeated storylines about the dangers of infiltration and attack by alien invaders. “In the aftermath of 9/11 and the bombings in London and Madrid, these narratives have been replayed once again, this time in both documentary and fictional media representations, emerging from a society which has displaced its fears and paranoia onto the figure of the migrant, the asylum seeker and the Islamic ‘other’.” Reality and nightmare have blurred, as these artists point out with aplomb.
Francesca Gavin
Alien Nation is at the ICA, London, until 14 January 07.
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comment by LisaEllen
Dec 26, 2006
A poorly created exhibition so poorly in fact I actually managed to miss a whole floor, On entrance I was greeted by a family of aliens muffeled in floral fabric with inky black oblong shaped eyes. Which looked like they had been creation of a Blue peter experiment it was this kind of crafty hand made church faint look which was apparent through out the whole exhibition, I quite expected to see an alien shape Victoria sponge cake. I think what was quite amusing about this is this contrast of artists trying to make things alien but they actually became very homely creatures in the familiar materials they had used. It was almost like these artists had been asked to produce aliens and sat at home and gathered whatever materials they could to go about assembling aliens. This was also strongly apparent in Marpes Christmas decoration alien sculptures. I must say quite a lot of the exhibition was the mundane every day alien stuff. When I quite hoped to be surprised by a different kind of alien, it just seems that most of the artists imagine the same aliens, I can't help but think these familiar aliens are not the results of the artists own unique imaginations but the result of watching science fiction alien films. If there are aliens there has got to be more than one kind of species of aliens when I think of all the different species of planet earth creatures. But I don't think a 5 year old could have done it like the previous person commented adless there grandaughter is incredibly talented as an art student I understand how difficult art can be to produce. lisa x
comment by CinderUSA
Dec 9, 2006
Never before would I have imagined Christmas tree items being considered art. I guess it is another way to utilize broken tree bulbs.The cartoon drawing is something my 5-year old granddaughter might have drawn one afternoon. To think these pieces would sell for more than the five pounds it cost to purchase the materials.
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