The present selection shows monochannel, installation and/ or sculptural work produced in Spain by video artists during the last five years or more. This selection principle precluded the presence of émigrés or artists who moved into commercial production, as well as those working only sporadically with video and newcomers to the medium.
Over the last five years, the final crossover from artistic to commercial production became a standard occurrence in the Spanish video scene. Amongst Its other implications, this transition can be taken as symptomatic of the problems that video artists face. On the one hand, there is an information backlog compared to international standards and by disinterest from cultural decision-makers (evident in the absence of financial and logistic support for training, production and distribution as well as the isolated presentation forums).
On the other hand, the communication in their creative field is disjointed, there is very little coordination. These deficiencies have obstructed the growth of an appropriate infrastructure, and are reflected in the refusal to recognize video art and its protagonists, resulting in a status of "non-existence". The rare exceptions are limited to local initiatives, sporadic mega happenings and exhibitions imported from abroad. The artists on display are exceptional cases, therefore, "survivors" in an apathetic environment who continue to produce monochannel tapes (Alvarez, Pardo, Saiaber- ria), video sculptures (Pueyo) and installations (Exposito, Hergueta, Ruiz de Infante). Recognition of their work has come primarily from outside Spain.
Maria Pallier