Associação Cultural Videobrasil

A new phase begins with the 12th edítion of Videobrasil. The strengthening of our partnership with SESC São Paulo and our recent association wíth Canal 21 will allow not only the realization of long dreamed projects but will also reach an infinitely larger number of people. This years program results from extensive and careful research carríed out during the past two years during which we were, able to follow the work of various artists, as well as observe and in many ínstances collaborate with other curators in festivais and media art exhibits throughout the world. The Competitive Exhibit is probably the most fascinating result of this research, fruit of a time-consuming, attentive and díffícult selection among hundreds of works sent by young and renowned artists from Brazil and abroad. Some of these works, although distant from the videoart establishment and its references, are capable of revealing pleasant surpríses where iconographic virtuosity is replaced by singular and authentíc personal narratives, provídíng the festival with a collection of vibrant and high quality exhibítions. Developing a large-scale project such as Fabrízio Plessi's "Deposito Dell'Arte" (not to mention the smooth working relationship with this great artist during practicaily one year) makes me further believe in the huge potential for electronic art ín Brazil, hinting to Videobrasíl's future which will always emphasize cultural exchange while, at the same time, promoting the development of our country's own artistic language. The production and presentation of multimedia performances are partly responsible for Videobrasil's new outlook. Artists like Eder Santos, Jérôme Lefdup, Carlos Nader, Fabio Itapura and Gisela Domschke have been expressing their art in recent years in different platforms. Celebrated for their installations and works on video they accepted the challenge proposed by the festival, developing hybríd performances in partnership with artists from different backgrounds, such as musicians, painters and poets. Other groups like Antirom, Chelpa Ferro and Tetine also attest to this tendency in Videobrasil. Videobrasíl remains faithful to its principle of establishing a "north-south" dialogue, by systematicaily exhibiting works of American and European artists and curators. Bringing them to present their work ín Brazil enables the exchange of ideas and experiences related to videoart production. The informative exhibits reveal the poetic and plastic imagery of renowned artists. Davíd Larcher, a technology wizard with an unparalleled expertise in transformíng digital effects in effective vehicles for symbols and ideas. Hrvoje Horvatic and Breda Beban, whose dense and sophisticated images: will be greatly appreciated in a special exhibition, a small tribute to Hrvoje, a great artist and dear friend. The exhibition of the experimental film Kutlug Ataman's Semiha B. Unplugged by the Turkish-American artist is another confirmation of Videobrasil's forte in promoting a continuous exchange of languages and formats. Curators Michael Maziere and Steve Seid generously accepted and masterfully conceived programs presenting British and American artists, enhancing themes: such as poetic and geographic dísplacement, aesthetic reviews and ethnic identity. Nils Röller, meanwhile, brings us a sample of recent works produced by young artists at the Academy of Media Arts in Köln, Germany. The already traditional Videojournal will handle the flow of information within the festíval's environment, which this year will be broadcast to the whole city of São Paulo. News updates, interviews with artists, statements, interactive participation of the attending public through special cabins (Box 21), inserts, and live coverage of Videobrasil's closing ceremonies are part of Canal 21's unique approach to become a channel open to the diffusion of videos plastic expression on TV. Videobrasil became a reality thanks to the determination and foresight of many persons and ínstitutions, some of which I would like to specially mention: Danilo Santos de Miranda and Pedro Farkas for aIways supporting and believing, Rosely Nakagawa for her competence and serenity, the SESC staffs in Pompéia, Ipíranga and Vila Mariana for their cooperation and, above all, my group of producers and collaborators for their tireless and invaluable help.

ASSOCIAÇÃO CULTURAL VIDEOBRASIL, "XII Videobrasil - Festival Internacional de Arte Eletrônica" [XII Videobrasil - International Electronic Art Festival]: from September 22 to October 11, 1998, pp. 15, São Paulo, SP, 1998.

12th Videobrasil

The 12th Interntional Videobrasil Festival which takes place this year between September 22 and October 25, reinforces once again the pioneering mission which Videobrasil has embodied from its inception and throughout existence. With its long-standing objective of welcoming all types of electronic media production of international stature, Videobrasil 1998 establishes a definite opening to works executed within the multiple array of media which allow for the development of specific languanges, always in search of informative and artistic substance unveiled through unique forms of expression, Videobrasil goes a step further in its attempt to present a forum where the public has an unparelleled opportunity to closely observe and learn from international productions, many which unseen to date in Brazil. To celebrate its process of growth and accomplishment, endorsed throughout these years by public acclaim, arts critics and opinion makers, Videobrasil has extended its geographic scope and agenda, presenting the festival in three SESC sites in São Paulo, reaching a larger and more diversified public while offering a wider spectrum of alternatives and cultural benefits.

ASSOCIAÇÃO CULTURAL VIDEOBRASIL, "XII Videobrasil - Festival Internacional de Arte Eletrônica" [XII Videobrasil - International Electronic Art Festival]: from September 22 to October 11, 1998, pp. 9, São Paulo, SP, 1998.

It is with a great deal of pride that Canal 21 participates in an event of such importance to the city of São Paulo: the 12th Videobrasil. As a matter of fact, whenever a daring and creative initiative arises in town, Canal 21 is present. Since it first broadcast its signal two years ago, Canal 21 has became the leader in viewing audience among UHF stations.

We have recently entered into a cooperative agreement with City TV from Toronto, Canada, one of the most technologically advanced and creative TV channels in the world, strengthening our forte as a city station. Their boldness and revolutionary style has brought us closer together.

Thinking global and acting local, we find our ideals match those of Videobrasil, a festival always encouraging and open to new ideas on video usage and promoting the exchange between Brazilian and foreign producers. We plan to increasingly break taboos and orthodox habits in our pursuit to build a truly up-to-date, interactive and local community TV.

A sample of all this you will be able to see right here at Videobrasil where we will show, for the first time in Brazil, Box 21 - an automatic recording booth inspired on City TV's Speaker's Corner which allows the public to express their opinion - thus participating in the station's programming. It is the viewer's guaranteed free space on TV. With the recorded material from the booth at Videobrasil we will edit a program which will be exhibited during the festival.

We will also give an award to the best video produced in São Paulo, as we are the channel most closely identified with São Paulo.

Denise Gomes, Managing Director Canal 21

ASSOCIAÇÃO CULTURAL VIDEOBRASIL, "12º Videobrasil": de 22 de setembro de 1998 a 11 de outubro de 1998, p. 13 , São Paulo, SP, 1998.

Ingenuity and Innovation

Produced by SESC and the Videobrasil Cultural Association, the International Electronic Arts Festival, now in its 12th edition, is the síngle most ímportant event in all of Latin America devoted to the dissemination and analysis of experimental video production. lt is also one, of the three most important events of its kind in the world. With a biennial rhythm Videobrasil has been taking place, since its 9th edition, at SESC Pompéia in São Paulo. Prestige, success and acknowledgement did not come by the unreckonable way of chance. lts roots can be, more appropriately traced, as all other events produced by SESC to a meticulous and intensive conceptual work, continuously elaborated and progressively expanded, permanently backed by research and discovery of the most expressive material distilled by artists and creators. With this edition of Videobrasíl the project begins a new expanded phase - this is the first time the festival takes place at three different SESC sites: SESC Pompéia, SESC Ipiranga and SESC Vila Mariana. This growth corresponds to SESC's desire to attract new audiences to an art so vigorously characterized by ingenuity, creativity and derring-do. As a whole, Videobrasil provídes an extensive panorama of contemporary electronic art in a worldwide scale. in addition to the Competitive Exhibit it offers, among other activities, a generous gamut of videoinstallations, works on CD-ROM and international events. Multimedia performances by Brazilian and international groups and artists account for the dynamics of installations. The festival incorporates internet resources thanks to which the cyber public can follow certain available passages of works, interviews with creators and live links. Instílled by a lavish sense for outstanding work, Videobrasil comprises works from personalities like Fabrizío Plessi and David Larcher. Electronic art has unveiled SESC's commitment to innovation and its capacity of emphasizing the new amidst the new, distinguishing the most creative, developments within a language which is, itself recent and innovative. This is from where the framework and internal mechanism of the festival evolve, integrating the most diverse expressions in one coherent body, the resulting impact echoing throughout debates, discussions and cultural exchange. Videobrasil is a typical example of affinity with contemporaneity - a trademark of our institution - congregating agility, plurality, rupture, research, experimentation and other positive traíts: which set apart the live cultural fact, free from retaliation, perpetuation and unyielding attitudes. For us at SESC São Paulo it is always time to rejoice with a far reaching initiative such as this one; not the least, among its other merits, as Videobrasil substantiaily contríbutes to the already highiy reputed cultural agenda of São Paulo.

ASSOCIAÇÃO CULTURAL VIDEOBRASIL, "12th Videobrasil": 22nd September to 1998 a 11th October 1998, pp. 11, São Paulo, Brazil, 1998.