Rajni Shah is a gifted young British artist who is currently working on a provocative and politically engaging performance piece, Dinner with America. The work, which is constantly evolving, focuses on her experiences of both this country and the U.K. and on questions of racial, sexual, and cultural identity and stereotypes.
In preparation to tour Dinner with America in the U.K. in 2009 and in the U.S. in 2010, Shah has worked with filmmaker Lucy Cash to produce a series of short documentary and promotional films. We have selected Uncertain Landmarks, which mixes scenes from the making of Dinner with America and from a performance in London in March, as this week’s video selection.
Uncertain Landmarks demonstrates three different ways in which contemporary artists are using video: first, as a means of documenting live performance and its development; second, as an art form in and of itself; and third, as a way of drawing attention to their work in the pursuit of further bookings. The piece makes for evocative and thought-provoking viewing and provides an unexpected perspective on this weekend’s holiday.
Credits: Film: Lucy Cash; Concept and direction for live performance: Rajni Shah; Costumes: Lucille Acevedo-Jones; Performances: Lucille Acevedo-Jones, Lucy Cash, Rajni Shah; Original lighting design for live performance: Cis O’Boyle; Additional still photographs: Manuel Vason; Thanks to: Ole Birkeland for film lighting, Jody Kimball for marching band dress, Roger and Donna Holcomb for pom poms, Liz Aggiss, Artsadmin, Tiffany Charrington, Richard Kingdom, John Knowles, Oxfordshire Touring Theatre Company, Savita and Tara Shah, Theron Schmidt; Made with support from: Arts Council England, Basement Arts Production, Chisenhale Dance Space, Coastal Currents, Fresh Festival, Goldsmiths College, Nuffield Theatre Lancaster, Queen Mary University of London, University of Chichester. Dinner with America is dedicated to the memory of Ronnog Seaberg.
September 5, 2008 
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