The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and The Ian Potter Cultural Trust are proud to present the world premiere of TERROR NULLIUS, the latest moving image work from internationally acclaimed Australian sample art collective Soda_Jerk. Sampling countless iconic Australian films, Soda_Jerk’s work is part political satire, eco-horror, and road movie.
TERROR NULLIUS is the third Ian Potter Moving Image Commission (IPMIC), a ten-year, biennial program providing $100,000 for the creation of new works by mid-career Australian artists – and the most significant moving image commission in the country. Soda_Jerk take on the IPMIC following the success of The Was, their 2016 collaboration with The Avalanches. This year they have also presented multi-channel video installations at international art spaces including the Barbican, London; Hartware Medien KunstVerein, Dortmund; Videotage, Hong Kong and Onassis Cultural Centre, Athens.
Reflecting on TERROR NULLIUS, Soda_Jerk commented: “Given the real life horror of our contemporary moment, we’ve chosen to wear our rage on our sleeve. TERROR NULLIUS is a sample-based film which reconstructs Australian cinema to create a political revenge fable in three acts. It is our un-writing of Australian mythology, where a misogynystic remark is met with the sharp beak of a bird, or the jaws of a crocodile. Where feminist bike gangs conspire and rampage, and bicentenary celebrations are ravaged by flesh-eating sheep. It’s arthouse meets grindhouse, both dark and hopeful and irreverent and urgent.”
The Ian Potter Moving Image Commission is a year-long commitment that supports artists to create a new work that will significantly further their practice. The generous support of the commission enabled Soda_Jerk to conduct extensive and intensive archival research into Australian screen culture as well as make possible a long held dream to collaborate with Melbourne filmmaker, writer and artist Phillip Brophy on the sound design for the work. Soda_Jerk were also able to engage John Klacsmann, Archivist at Anthology Film Archives in New York, in order to adopt the most innovative transcoding procedures for their sampled material.
“Soda_Jerk work at the nexus of free culture activism and cinematic sampling, and TERROR NULLIUS cements them as one of Australia’s most electrifying art collectives. We are thrilled to support them through the third Ian Potter Moving Image Commission. Our partnership with the Ian Potter Cultural Trust builds on ACMI’s mission of supporting exciting artists at the forefront of moving image practice. The commission enables ACMI, as the national museum of moving image culture, to host the world premiere of this provocative film – one that will force viewers to rethink what they ‘know‘ about Australia’s cinema history,” says IPMIC Judge and ACMI Director & CEO, Katrina Sedgwick.
TERROR NULLIUS follows on from the success of the two previous commissions, The Calling by Angelica Mesiti and Phantom Ride by Daniel Crooks, both of which enjoyed critical and popular success upon premiering at ACMI.
Lady Potter AC, Trustee of The Ian Potter Cultural Trust, commended Soda_Jerk’s forthcoming premiere:
“I eagerly look forward to the launch of this intriguing and ambitious new work. I am confident Soda_Jerk’s TERROR NULLIUS will attract a young audience with their coTerror Nullius Exhibitionntemporary approach and use of digital media. TERROR NULLIUS marks a further exciting chapter of the Ian Potter Moving Image Commission which is intended to encourage exploration of moving image as an art form.”
Terror Nullius by Soda_Jerk
20 March – 1 July 2018
ACMI – Melbourne
www.acmi.net.au/terrornullius
