‘WHERE IT'S COMING FROM - CHARLEMAGNE PALESTINE’

Where It's Coming From is an extended conversation between Charlemagne Palestine and Wies Smals at De Appel in Amsterdam in May 1977, in which they discuss art-making, bodyworks, performance, and the camera as a catalyst for action. As Palestine sits relaxed on the floor with a glass of cognac, Smals holding the camera, an improvised monologue begins to unfold in a stream of observations, statements and questions, sometimes directly addressed to Smals, but often to a future audience. Palestine works with his archetypal objects, tying himself up with scarves "to keep from falling apart," and speaking through his stuffed animals. The atmosphere changes constantly, teetering between hysteria and engaging friendliness, personal confessions and bombastic nonsense. Things become less friendly when a razor-sharp butcher's knife is pulled out...