Marcel Dzama’s Puppets, Pawns, and Prophets

I’ve managed to keep it under control so far but i’ve got quite an obsession with the work of Marcel Dzama. The world he creates mixes childhood nostalgia, violence, sex and history (without necessarily knocking you down with historical references) in the most sinister and seducing way.

Let me be cruel, not unnatural, 2013

Infidels, 2009

Luckily for Londoners, the David Zwirner gallery has just opened a show about Dzama’s latest work: Puppets, Pawns, and Prophets. The main protagonists are helpfully listed in the title.

Part of the exhibition centers on his 2011 film A Game of Chess, with props, preparatory drawings and the final short film. The characters dance across the checkered board, wearing papier-mâché costumes and masks.

The works is influenced by Bauhaus artist Oskar Schlemmer whose Triadic Ballet from 1922 included puppet-like costumes, and mask-wearing figures dancing across a checkered surface. More generally, the inspiration for the work is the early twentieth-century avant-garde who drew analogies between chess (with its balance between improvisation and predetermination) and artistic practice.

The video shown at David Zwirner, however, restages some of the footage of A Game of Chess and turns it into Sister Squares, splitting the screen in four. The result is even more confusing and fascinating than the original film.

The filming and the creation of the costumes took place in Guadalajara, Mexico, and the influence of local culture (cue to splendid Mariachi trumpeting and sombrero-ing the video) infiltrate the work.

Sister Squares, 2012. Video on monitor

Sister Squares, 2012

A Game of Chess, 2011

But the video i couldn’t get my eyes off is The Infidels. This time the puppet-like chess figures go to war against stockinged female “terrorists,” AK-47 in hand. It’s violent, joyful, enigmatic and sexy.

I don’t want to sound overly enthusiastic but this is probably the most sublime video i’ve ever seen…. (The quality of the video is not great but i think it should give you an idea.)