KELLY THOMAS BEAT TO DEATH BY COPS

The installation was constructed as a departure from the painting The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault, emerging as an attempt to reinterpret the concept of voyeurism in contemporary times. It explores how art engages with politics, history, and social issues today.

The installation consists of a projection of a YouTube video (screen 1), which shows the beating of Kelly Thomas by members of the Fullerton Police Department in Orange County, California, USA. Thomas was homeless and suffered from schizophrenia. The beating ultimately led to his death five days later in the hospital.

Opposite screen 1, a webcam records the observer.

Screen 2 displays a real-time video stream of the audience watching the first video. These recordings can be accessed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtJN06TcyHQ

This project was part of the exhibition Das Floß der Medusa at the Kunsthalle am Hamburger Platz in Berlin.

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