Junction - Camden Art Centre
Type
Residencies
Format
Offsite
Date 1 Apr/30 May 2009

“I don’t believe you, you’re a liar” - Bob Dylan, 1966

Artist William Hunt presented a new performance and other events as a part of Junction, an ongoing series of off-site projects commissioned by Camden Arts Centre.  Inspired by Bob Dylan’s response to a heckler at the Free Trade Hall in 1966 “I don’t believe you, you’re a liar”, Hunt transformed the Artists’ Studio into a recording studio and invites singer songwriters to be connected to a polygraph machine (lie detector). As acoustic and especially folk music had traditionally been associated with protest and the authentic, Hunt asks the question of whether it is truly heartfelt or the musicians are simply pushing our buttons.

The finale of Hunt’s residency took place in King’s Cross with ‘Saturday Night TV’, a battle of the bands and alternative to the omnipresent TV talent show. The finale is judged by a ‘celebrity panel’ along with the audience who are asked to shout “play loud, play real loud” or “I don’t believe you, you’re a liar”.

Junction: A series of artists’ projects for King’s Cross. Commissioned by Camden Arts Centre.

Images Related events Supported by

Live Art Performance: William Hunt

Wednesday 11 March, 7.30 – 8.30pm
Artist in residence William Hunt presented the UK premier of ‘I Forgot Myself, Looking At You’.
Hunt transformed the Artists’ Studio into a recording studio for his 3-month residency.
He created works that involve musical elements and physical duress, in the past he has been seen hanging upside down and singing underwater.

Open Studio: William Hunt

Saturday 25 April
Visit to the Artists’ Studio which artist in residence William Hunt has transformed into a recording studio. Including the view from the production box, viewing of recordings by singer songwriters and performances with a lie detector.

During his residency Hunt invited singer songwriters to perform hooked up to a lie detector (polygraph machine). He explored the ability to separate mind from body, asking is it truly heartfelt or are they just pushing our buttons?

Live Art Performance: William Hunt - Saturday Night TV

Saturday 30 May, 7.30 – 8.30pm
For the finale of William Hunt’s artist’s residency “I don’t believe you, you’re a liar” he presented a major new installation and performance work in King’s Cross. A battle of the bands, X Factor hybrid, the work featured live music and tough talking judges.

Acts performed linked up to a lie detector and are critiqued not only on their singing talent but on their genuineness. The final was judged by a ‘celebrity panel’ along with the audience who were asked to shout “play loud, play real loud” or “I don’t believe you, you’re a liar”.

During his residency at Camden Arts Centre in April and May, Hunt transformed the Artists’ Studio into a recording studio, and invited singer songwriters to perform hooked up to a lie detector (polygraph machine). He explored the ability to separate mind from body, asking is it truly heartfelt or are they just pushing our buttons?

“I don’t believe you, you’re a liar” was Bob Dylan’s response to a heckler in 1966 during a performance at the Free Trade Hall when he had made the transition to electric. Acoustic and especially folk music had traditionally been associated with protest and the authentic.