A Crime Against Art is a film in six chapters based on the trial staged at an art fair in Madrid in February 2007. The trial, inspired by the mock trials organized by Andre Breton in the 1920's and 30's, playfully raised a number of polemical issues in the world of contemporary art: collusion with the 'new bourgeoisie', instrumentalization of art and its institutions, the future possibility of artistic agency and other pertinent topics. The trial begins with the assumption that a crime has been committed, yet its nature and evidence are allusive and no victims have come forward. The testimonies and cross-examinations become an attempt by the Judge (Jan Verwoert) to unravel the nature of the mysterious "crime against art." Set as a television courtroom drama and filmed by four camera crews, the six-chapter serial presents a condensed two-and-a-half hour version of the trial.
A Crime Against Art - a film by Hila Peleg, based on the trial staged at an art fair in Madrid in February 2007. The trial, inspired by the mock trials organized by avant-garde movements in the 1920's and 30's, theatrically raised a number of polemical issues in the world of contemporary art: collusion with the ‘new bourgeoisie’, instrumentalization of art and its institutions, the future possibility of critical artistic agency and other pertinent subjects. The trial begins with the assumption that a crime has been committed, yet its nature and evidence are allusive and no victims have come forward. The testimonies and cross-examinations become an attempt by the Judge (Jan Verwoert), the Prosecutors (Vasif Kortun and Chus Martinez) and the Defense Attorney (Charles Esche) to unravel the nature of the puzzling "crime against art". Set as a television courtroom drama and filmed by four camera crews, A Crime Against Art presents a condensed 100 minute version of a the trial.
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Cast:
Defendants: Anton Vidokle and Tirdad Zolgdhar
Prosecutors: Vasif Kortun and Chus Martinez
Defense attorney: Charles Esche
Judge: Jan Verwoert
Expert witnesses: Maria Lind and Anselm Franke
Artist: Setareh Shabazi
Public: Keti Chukrov and Barnaby Drabble
With special contribution by Liam Gillick.

A Crime Against Art is based on The Trial in Madrid, February 2007
Organised by Anton Vidokle and Tirdad Zolgdhar.