"Amerika", Video 2003

In my video and performance works I try to stage the naive artist and frame a romantic view of the arts in an almost subversive strategy that insists on conveying a political message on an intimately personal level. I use my native Norwegian language and explore language clichés with reference to Norwegian ballad and song traditions. I build theatrical tableaux inspired by Norwegian cabaret, amateur theatre and broadcasting traditions. By singing with my own voice in my works, I clearly expose myself as an unschooled singer. This is done to provoke an "awkward" or "ambivalent" meeting with the characters I portray, and at the same time, it may reflect some of my Norwegian cultural background, which dictates that you're not supposed to excel or to be better than anyone else at anything...

- Ane Lan

 

"Europe", video 4:00 min (2004)