Retrospektive Tom Konyves
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SIGN LANGUAGE (1985) 4 min.
Sign Language is a videopoem constructed entirely from images of graffiti around the city of Vancouver. The rhythm of the work is created by the synchronized editing of the images with the soundtrack. The music I selected for the work, entitled You Haunt Me, is performed by the saxophonist John Luria with the group Lounge Lizards. Unlike most of my work, the soundtrack complements the visual presentation. It’s one of those works where you wonder if the soundtrack was created with the resulting procession of images in mind. And vice versa. A pure example of “found text”, this videopoem gives voice to the faceless underground of Vancouver’s east side, bearing witness to their outrage and pain, their uncompromising and sometimes anarchic vision of the absurdity in our lives, all with a measure of humour to remind us that the family of man – no matter how far outcast we may be – includes each and every one of us.
