V22 Presents... Werner Herzog
Published 21 months ago
The German auteur will be in London this autumn to meet his audience at The Royal Festival hall
- Text by Jane Duru
Werner Herzog has been called everything from a tyrant to a genius but when the German auteur sweeps into London town later this autumn one thing's for sure; this will be no ordinary talk. The uncategorisable, raw and often controversial nature of his subject matter and his storytelling technique has captivated many but almost as compelling as the films are the myths wreathed around the man himself. Tales abound of chaotic sets, precarious budgets, and accidents (both happy and not-so-happy), but the director's uncompromising vision and quest for "the esctatic truth" has produced a unique cinematic legacy.
This October, Intelligence Squared celebrate that legacy with Conquest Of The Useless an evening curated by Herzog, taking place at the Royal Festival Hall. In support of this, art collection V22 and the Barbican have joined up to present a series of rare screenings of 26 Herzog films throughout September and October. V22, founded by Tara Cranswick in 2006, is the first art collection to be publicly traded and includes artists in its ownership structure. Aiming to build a new model for art ownership, V22 owns a burgeoning contemporary art collection, and provides studio space for artists across London as well as putting on various exhibitions. The screenings start this Friday at SPACE studios in the East End with Even Dwarves Started Small.
DD: Why are you showing Herzog's screenings now?
Tara: Him coming to London just seemed an unmissable opportunity to show his work. The live event will be so much richer and more enjoyable in the middle of seeing a whole lot of his works.
DD: How did you go about choosing the films and venues? Is there any rationale behind which films are shown at which venue?
Tara: We wanted fitting places for the films – a really ‘cool’ organisation wanted to screen The Great Ecstasy Of Woodcarver Steiner for example, and we had to say no - it would have been all wrong. The 19th century conservatory at the Horniman is just a beautiful setting for something like Heart of Glass. Herzog, of his search for landscapes, says he is trying to find a humane spot for man – we kind of tried to find humane spots for the films.
DD: Can you give any more detail about the screenings themselves?
Tara: There really are some lovely screenings happening: Heart of Glass in the 19th century glass conservatory of the Horniman Museum; Gesualdo in the massive attic of the old cinema museum (that place is amazing – full of old cinema paraphernalia and the most beautiful building – it really reminded me of Ghostbusters!); God’s Angry Man and Huie’s Sermon at The Tabernacle (old listed church/tabernacle come Art Deco/turn of the century steel baroque Music Hall) with a live gospel choir in between screenings; La Soufriere & The White Diamond as a double bill as part of the Raindance Film Festival; Nosferatu in a 22,000 sq ft warehouse (should be wonderfully eerie) two films in a screening room built literally under The Westway – the highway is the roof… The major works in the Barbican Auditorium and some of his feature films and shorts in London’s beautiful old Art Deco cinemas (The Ritzy, Electric, Screen On The Green) Bells From The Deep (about faith and superstition in Russia) at Pushkin House….really lovely!
DD: How did the Intelligence Squared talk come about? Was it easy to get permission for the film screenings?
Tara: Paul Holdengraber of the New York Public Library was saying that his live discussion with Werner Herzog in NY was one of the best he had ever had… John Gordon – the founder of IQ2 suggested he approach Herzog to do a similar event in London and he said yes. Holdengraber is not your run of the mill interviewer – I think that had a lot to do with Herzog saying yes, and IQ2 is a great institution.On the screenings, Paul helped to put me in touch with the right people… a couple of questions came back and forth and then Lucki – Herzog’s brother - got in touch 3 weeks ago to say yes. I was thrilled of course and Lucki has been so helpful and sweet about everything. I still can’t quite believe he said yes – I think our obvious enthusiasm for the films comes through and our honest desire to do them justice as films and nothing else.
DD: What does Herzog represent to you as an artist?
Tara: He does not like to be called, or call himself, an artist. For me the quality of the work is such that it really just rises above names and distinctions.
V22Presents.com
V22 Presents… Werner Herzog, London Film Screenings runs until October 31 intelligencesquared.com Conquest of The Useless is at the Royal Festival Hall on October 3
