In a sequence of unique live performances, a series of massive sculptures, and, finally, a marathonlength opera in cinematic form, made with. Set across the contemporary american landscape, the threepart river of fundament is an epic story of regeneration and rebirth. Last month, artist matthew barney and composer jonathan beplers operatic 311minute film river of fundament made its debut in new york. Nonetheless, river of fundament takes the barney and bepler group effort to new heights. Act iv, brooklyn, 20 has been presented at major theaters including. In collaboration with composer jonathan bepler, matthew barney combines traditional modes of narrative cinema with filmed elements of performance, sculpture, and opera inspired by norman mailers novel, ancient evenings. Loosely based on the 1983 norman mailer novel ancient evenings, with an ancient. Less has been said about composer jonathan beplers music, or why river of fundament, all prerecorded, has been called an opera and shown not. Loosely based on the 1983 norman mailer novel ancient evenings, with an ancient egyptian protagonist who sought reincarnation three times in the. This gesture led to what would later become the film river of fundament. River of fundament a film by matthew barney and jonathan. Barney and beplers script reimagines mailer as his own protagonist who reincarnates three times in three different bodies by magically entering the womb of his wife. Melillo, executive producer river of fundament a film by matthew barney and jonathan bepler produced by matthew barney and laurenz. In his radical physical sculptural work he has created epic forms as reflected in his fivepart cremaster cycle, a gigantic gesamtkunstw.
Theres a lot of singing river of fundament was conceived by matthew barney and composer jonathan bepler as. Hacksaw ridge 2016 directed by mel gibson, and based on the 2004 documentary the conscientious objector. Jonathan bepler official site gradually updating 2019. In collaboration with composer jonathan bepler, matthew barney combines traditional modes of narrative cinema with filmed elements of performance, sculpture, and opera inspired by norman mailers 1983 novel ancient evenings, a hypersexual story of egyptian gods and the seven stages of reincarnation, alongside the rise and. The film river of fundament combines documentation of these three live acts with scenes set in a reconstruction of norman mailers brownstone apartment in brooklyn heights. Last month, artist matthew barney and composer jonathan beplers operatic 311 minute film river of fundament made its debut in new york. The film features barney, dave bald eagle, milford graves, ellen burstyn, maggie. River of fundament is a 2014 operatic experimental film written and directed by american artist and filmmaker matthew barney, and codirected by longtime collaborator jonathan bepler. Conversation matthew barney, jonathan bepler, hans ulrich obrist. River of fundament is presented worldwide by manchester international festival.
The further exploration of alternative modes of storytelling, and the incorporation of elements of opera as well as recorded live performances, generate a powerful and incisive narrative structure that captivates the viewer for the films entire six hour duration. A radical reinvention of norman mailers novel ancient evenings, this epic film is the work by world renowned art visionary matthew barney in collaboration with composer jonathan bepler. Set across the american landscape, the film river of fundament is an epic story of regeneration and rebirth. Jonathan bepler is an american composer of experimental music perhaps best known for his. In the latest installment of s interview series, visual artist matthew barney and composer jonathan bepler discuss their film river of fundament river of fundament is an operatic. Part of 2014 winterspring season world premiere feb 1216 a film by matthew barney and jonathan bepler produced by matthew barney and laurenz foundation htt. Part of 2014 winterspring season world premiere feb 1216 a film by matthew barney and jonathan bepler produced by mat. Wide open air exchange films of the decade with davis. In 2007, matthew barney and jonathan bepler began a new collaborative project inspired by american author norman mailers 1983 novel ancient evenings, set in pharaonic egypt. Matthew barney, boat of ra 2014,river of fundament. With dave bald eagle, milford graves, john buffalo mailer, ellen burstyn. Matthew barney et jonathan bepler river of fundament visual arts the american writer norman mailer once personally gave a copy of his 1983 novel ancient evenings to matthew barney as a hopeful source of inspiration. Official website for river of fundament, the 2014 operatic film by artist matthew barney and composer jonathan bepler, and related artwork by matthew.
Visionary artist matthew barney returns to cinema with this 3part epic, a radical reinvention of norman mailers novel ancient evenings. Matthew barney and jonathan bepler, river of fundament. In 2007, matthew barney and composer jonathan bepler began a new collaborative project inspired by american author norman mailers 1983. Bepler collaborated again with matthew barney on the sixhour film river of fundament, was created over. Contributors angus cook, jonathan bepler and shane anderson. In his radical physical sculptural work he has created epic forms as reflected in his fivepart cremaster cycle, a gigantic.
River of fundament trailer 2015 in collaboration with composer jonathan bepler, matthew barney combines traditional modes of narrative cinema with filmed elements of performance, sculpture, and opera inspired by norman mailers novel, ancient evenings, a hypersexual story of egyptian gods and the seven stages of reincarnation, alongside the. This piece is included in ran dians print magazine, issue 5 spring 2017 river of fundament, an operatic, fivehourlong film created by matthew barney in 2014, was presented in asia for the first time last september. Fff2 river of fundament matthew barney and jonathan bepler. His longstanding collaboration with composer jonathan bepler is alive in the structure and operatic pacing of the work, and bepler s score is extraordinary. Ann demeester interviewed jonathan bepler about river of fundament. From clouds of dissonant horns to ambient gurgles to. It is a kind of hybrid between documentary live performance and studio narrative film making. It is basically an american opera that is epic in proportion. Visionary artist matthew barney makes his bam debut with the world premiere screening of river of fundament, a radical reinvention of norman mailers novel ancient evenings. It was produced by barney and the laurenz foundation and is loosely based on the 1983 novel ancient evenings by norman mailer. Khu 2014, production still photo by hugo glendinning matthew barney all of that, mind you, is shot impeccably.
Please note that the june 5, part 1 screening originally scheduled for 2. Matthew barney resurrects norman mailer in river of fundament by margaret bartonfumo in the marchapril 2014 issue matthew barneys latest collaboration with the composer jonathan bepler is, not to mince words, quite literally the shittiest film ever made. There are many wet, gurgling noises in the soundtrack. Matthew barney et jonathan bepler, river of fundament. This is a project that i worked on for over seven years, mostly shot in three locations. River of fundament official theatrical trailer 2015 intlfilmcircuit. Hugo glendinning river of fundament, film by matthew barney and jonathan bepler coming to cap ucla april 25, 2015. This week the ifc center offers the fiveandahalfhour river of fundament, a film from mr. In collaboration with composer jonathan bepler, barney combines traditional modes of narrative cinema with filmed elements of performance, sculpture, and opera, reconstructing mailers hypersexual story of egyptian gods.
Developed by matthew barney in collaboration with the composer jonathan bepler since 2007, the project comprises the epiclength symphonic film river of fundament, three performances, 14 largescale sculptures weighing up to 25 tons, drawings, photographs, storyboards, and vitrines. In collaboration with composer jonathan bepler, barney combines traditional modes of narrative cinema with filmed elements of performance, sculpture, and opera, reconstructing mailers hypersexual story of egyptian gods and the seven stages of reincarnation, alongside the rise and fall of the american car industry. River of fundament is directly inspired by norman mailers egyptian novel ancient evenings, his infamous classic that chronicled the passage of a narrator through the stations of death and reincarnation. The film, written by barney in collaboration with composer jonathan bepler, tells a story of regeneration. Max, vice chairman of the board karen brooks hopkins, president joseph v. In collaboration with composer jonathan bepler, barney combines traditional modes of narrative cinema with filmed elements of performance, sculpture, and opera, reconstructing mailers hypersexual story of egyptian gods and the seven stages of. Official website for river of fundament, the 2014 operatic film by artist matthew barney and composer jonathan bepler, and related artwork by matthew barney. Matthew barney and jonathan bepler talk river of fundament. In collaboration with composer jonathan bepler, matthew barney combines traditional modes of narrative cinema with filmed elements of performance, sculpture, and opera inspired by norman mailers novel, ancient evenings, a hypersexual story of egyptian gods and the seven stages of reincarnation, alongside the rise and fall of the american car industry. In 2007, matthew barney and jonathan bepler began a. River of fundament directed by matthew barney and jonathan. River of fundament official theatrical trailer 2015. Nobody in the field of contemporary art has expanded the understanding of sculpture as much as matthew barney.
In collaboration with composer jonathan bepler, barney combines traditional modes of narrative cinema with filmed elements of performance, sculpture, and opera, reconstructing mailers hypersexual story of egyptian. Wading in matthew barneys river of shit hyperallergic. Matthew barneys river of fundament is a sprawling, ambitious interpretation of norman mailers chequered masterpiece, ancient evenings. River of fundament was originally curated by okwui enwezor. River of fundament 2014 directed by matthew barney and jonathan bepler, and inspired by the norman mailer novel ancient evenings. Find jonathan bepler movies, filmography, bio, co stars, photos, news and tweets. River of fundament arttube online museumchannel about. River of fundament, one of the most spectacular gesamtkunstwerk in recent memory, comes to hamburg. It comprises a symphonic film by barney and jonathan bepler, an exhibition, and a selection of egyptian antiquities from monas own collection.
Playbill for each 2014 screening of river of fundament, a film by matthew barney and jonathan bepler. The project was conceived as a nontraditional opera with a series of onetimeonly live acts performed across the. River of fundament 2014 is one of barneys most challenging and ambitious projects to date, and his largest filmic undertaking since the renowned, fivepart cremaster film cycle 19942002. The most recent work from an iconoclastic contemporary artist, the avantgarde sculptor, visual artist, performer and filmmaker, matthew barney, is an epic. In collaboration with composer jonathan bepler, matthew barney combines traditional modes of narrative cinema with filmed. In the extensive advance planning to present river of fundament at the center, we discussed at length the requirements associated with barney bepler s vision for the work.