Description

EAI is thrilled to host an evening with Ilana Harris-Babou, whose moving image works accompany a broader multimedia practice including sculpture and installation. Activating playful demeanor as a tool for investigation and critique, Harris-Babou uncovers paradoxes latent in mainstream media: claims to authenticity figured around the fetishization of pre-colonial, non-white culture, the exploitation of gender stereotypes, and the commodification of “wellness.” Rather than attempt to resolve these contradictions, Harris-Babou makes fun with them—and in so doing, exposes imagination and fantasy themselves as powerful media languages.

Harris-Babou’s videos repurpose the genres of home improvement television, self-help vlogs, and youtube-style tutorials. Frequently featuring her mother as a main character, the artist approaches her topics of interest from a personal vantage—for example, addressing reparations for Black Americans from the perspective of home renovation, and the role played by “repair” in commercial American furniture design. The screening will include Cooking with the Erotic (2016), Reparation Hardware (2018), and Decision Fatigue (2020), tracking Harris-Babou's evolving inquiries into the machinations of aspirational culture and the notions of expertise it upholds.

Following the screening, Harris-Babou will be joined in conversation by Wendy Vogel to discuss shared themes in their practices, followed by audience Q&A.

The event celebrates the distribution of Harris-Babou’s work, added to the EAI catalogue this fall. Harris-Babou also has solo shows this month at Storefront for Art and Architecture and Candice Madey.

RSVP here. Seating is first come, first serve. RSVP does not guarantee entry, but helps us track interest and send event updates and reminders.

Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI)’s venue is located at 264 Canal Street, 3W, near several Canal Street subway stations. Our floor is accessible by elevator (63" × 60" car, 31" door) and stairway. Due to the age and other characteristics of the building, our bathrooms are not ADA-accessible, though several such bathrooms are located nearby. If you have questions about access, please contact cstrange@eai.org in advance of the event.

Masks are strongly encouraged. If you are experiencing a fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, or other symptoms that could be related to COVID-19, we ask that you please stay home.