Black White + Gray
A penetrating documentary about the tumultuous relationship between art curator Sam Wagstaff and his lover, photographer and all round enfant terrible Robert Mapplethorpe. Black White + Gray provides rare insights into Wagstaff’s immersion in queer culture (resulting in some of the most sexually-explicit photographs that marked its time during the ‘70s). Fans of Patti Smith will also be pleased to know that the film also explores the complex love that Wagstaff shared with the legendary singer before his long-term relationship with Mapplethorpe.
Mar 9, 7:30pm.
Jean-Michel Basquait: A Radiant Child
Centred on a rare interview that director and friend Tamra Davis shot with Jean-Michel Basquiat over 20 years ago, this documentary is both intimate and insightful. With compassion and psychological insight, Davis details the mysteries that surround the charismatic artists, one of the forefathers of both New York’s street and Pop Art scene.
March 9, 10pm: March 12, 8pm.
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
Love him or hate him, the controversial Chinese artist still generates buzz wherever he goes. This well-known documentary is a must for those who are passionate about the links between art and politics as director Alsion Klayman gained unprecedented access to Ai Weiwei’s life during her stint as a journalist in China.
March 14-15, 10pm.
The Cool School
One of the best films in the line-up, this rare documentary (written by Kristine McKenna, a keen follower of the ‘50s underground art movement) depicts the rise and fall of Los Angeles’ seminal Ferus Gallery, which, in its time, hosted works by legends like Wallace Berman, Marchel Duchamp, Ed Ruscha and Andy Warhol. It’s a well-documented flick with insightful interviews with founding members Walter Hopps and Irving Blum, as well as actor-photographer Dennis Hopper and Dean Stockwell.
March 15, 7:30pm.
Art-in-Film Festival at Dusk 2013 is on through March 16. Tanjong Beach Club. To buy tickets and for full line-up, log on to their website.
