Filmmaker pulls out of 'grotesque charade' Davos and smashes TV in protest
Visual artist had been a nominated cultural leader in the arts section of the World Economic Forum
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A filmmaker withdrew from his role as Davos cultural leader before smashing a TV in protest, after labelling the World Economic Forum event a “grotesque charade.”
Keiichi Matsuda took to Twitter to announce his departure from the summit, billed as an opportunity for 40 “cultural leaders” to “speak truth to power and inspire more responsive and responsible leadership”.
Mr Matsuda wrote: “I'm officially withdrawing as a Davos cultural leader. I refuse to let my work be used to legitimise this grotesque charade #wef17.”
The post was accompanied by a video in which the artist picks up a metal rope stand and slams it into a television screen.
The screen shatters and falls from its wall mount to the floor, with Mr Matsuda reassuring onlookers: “It’s my work, it’s OK."
Mr Matsuda took to Medium shortly after to clarify the intentions behind the provocative statement.
"I found a lot of things upsetting; the CEO of Wal-Mart talking about his commitment to ethics (NEWS: they are releasing a responsibly sourced t-shirt). The biggest mall operator in the middle east talking about his commitment to sustainability (he built a ski slope with real snow in Dubai)," he wrote.
"Under the surface it’s the same old money, power and callous greed. These people are not stupid. The staff the participants, the delegates, everyone there knows that it’s not real, that its just theatre. Many people I spoke to confirmed this, with a kind of ‘it is what it is’ attitude. I found myself becoming complicit, lending my own work to support and validate the whole thing."
He added: "I went to Davos with an open mind, and didn’t intend to make any kind of protest, but in the end destroying my own work was the only way I could see to leave cleanly. I’m glad I have the freedom to stand up to bulls**t."
The annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos started on Tuesday, billed as bringing together political and business leaders with a mission to “improve the state of the world.”
Mr Matsuda had been presenting his concept film, Hyper-Reality, as part of the Arts and Culture section of the event.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments