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Melik Ohanian, Invisible Film, 2005. Image courtesy of the artist.

Invisible Film (2005)

Invisible Film (2005) by Melik Ohanian documents a projection at El Mirage Dry Lake in California of the controversial film Punishment Park from 1971. This film was banned in the UK and USA for its anti-war stance following military action in Vietnam. Before entering the space, we hear the audio track and see the subtitles from Punishment Park. However in the next space we aren't shown the actual film, as expected, but rather the image of a 35mm projector beaming Punishment Park into thin air in the same desert landscape that the original film was shot in. By rendering the film invisible, Ohanian comments on today's political situation and how governments and the film industry control public perception and consciousness.

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