Alibi for the 21st Century
Alibi For The 21st Century
James White: “If Only, Only If”
Performances of the work - see "Film" page
About The Work
In James White’s “If Only, Only If” two cars are connected by a chain and driving in opposite directions, no-one is driving. The two cars - a Red Ford Mondeo and a Blue Peugeot 406 - are seemingly locked in a tug of war, an eternal conflict from which they wish to escape. Any chance of release is curtailed first by the chains and then by the imposing barriers.
With this work and its’ unrealised twin “If Only, Only Then” concrete notions come to mind: the formal work of a tug of war, the ultimate failure between intentions and reality and the utopian fantasy of realising desire.
White’s work is concerned with uncertainty, risk, safety, tension, antagonism, illusion and control. It speaks to the ideology of risk aversion, responsibility and regulation and the gap between the illusion and reality of Disneyland in our daily lives.
About the work
The cars are remotely controlled by White from a distance and are enclosed at either end by concrete barriers whilst the whole work is cordoned off with fencing.
For Further Information and Images Contact James White
M: 07769-671593