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About
Shaun Gladwell is one of Australia's foremost contemporary artists, whose work investigates the physical body engaged in sub-cultural performances within various urban environments. 'Double Field/Viewfinder (Tarin Kowt)' 2009-2010 was produced during the artist's tenure as an Australian official war artist in Afghanistan (the town of Tarin Kowt being home to the NATO-ISAF base in southern Afghanistan). Gladwell was the first to use the medium of video/video installation in the history of the scheme, the moving image lending itself to explorations in the role of technology, particularly media coverage, communication and surveillance, in contemporary warfare.
In October 2009 Gladwell was drafted into the Australian Defence Force for three weeks where he participated in military operations and gathered footage for future works. A synchronised dual-channel High Definition video, televised on two screens facing one another, presents two soldiers stood in the Afghan desert. These two figures, rendered in real time, are caught in a standoff as they simultaneously circle, imitate and 'shoot' one another with their hand-held cameras.
These scenes are far removed from the skateboarding and break dancing which the artist is renowned for, however the work retains those situational elements of body, movement and landscape which address the nature of occupation and conflict.
Details
Other Title
Campo doble/visor (Tarin Kowt)
Date
2009-2010
Materials used
dual channel digital video, colour, sound
Edition
AP 1, from an edition of 4 + 2 APs
Dimensions
duration: 00:18:39 min, aspect ratio: 16:9
Signature & date
Signed l.c. certificate of authenticity, black fibre-tipped pen "Shaun Gladwell". Not dated.
Credit
Gift of the artist 2012. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
Location
Not on display
Accession number
296.2012

Place
Where the work was made
Afghanistan
Shown in 5 exhibitions
Exhibition history
Art 41 Basel, Exhibition Venue Unknown, 16 Jun 2010–20 Jun 2010
Shaun Gladwell: stereo sequences, Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne, 01 Jun 2011–14 Aug 2011
The power of doubt, Muso Colecciones ICO, Madrid, 02 Jun 2011–11 Sep 2011
Shaun Gladwell: Perpetual 360° sessions, SCHUNCK*, Heerlen, 03 Sep 2011–27 Nov 2011
Collection+: Shaun Gladwell, Galleries UNSW, Paddington, 06 Mar 2015–25 Apr 2015
Referenced in 7 publications
Bibliography
Rex Butler., Shaun Gladwell: stereo sequences, 'Shaun Gladwell: stereo sequences' by Sarah Tutton; 'The video conceit', Melbourne, 2011, (colour illus., video still). not paginated
Francisco Carpio, The power of doubt, 'Shaun Gladwell', pg. 74-81, Madrid, 2011, 76 (colour illus., video still), 77 (colour illus., video still), 78 (colour illus., video still), 79 (colour illus., video still), 80 (colour illus., video still), 81 (colour illus., video still). titled 'Campo doble/visor (Tarin Kowt)'
Stephen Hepworth, Shaun Gladwell: perpetual 360° sessions, 'Extracts from the diary of a wanderer', pg. 6-13, Heerlen, 2011, 12, 74-75 (colour illus., video still).
Catherine Keenan., The Sydney Morning Herald, 'Artist goes to war armed with handycam', Sydney, 09 Jul 2010. viewed 10.10.2012, http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/artist-goes-to-war-armed-with-handycam-20100708-102cu.html
Kit Messham-Muir, Contemporary + Visual Art Broadsheet, 'In the mime-network', pg. 123-125, Adelaide, Autumn 2011, 123 (colour illus., video still), 124, 125. viewed 10.10.2012, http://www.cacsa.org.au/Broadsheet/Current/40_2/40_2_Muin.pdf
Lily Wei, ARTnews, 'In harm's way', pg. 42-49, Manhattan, Apr 2015, 42-43 (colour illus., video still), 44. photograph of shoot
Natalie Wilson and Anneke Jaspers, Foundation Newsletter #22, 'Curators' and coordinators' reports: Australian art', pg. 6-7, Sydney, Jun 2013, 7.