Manifesto

Inspired by the tradition of artist manifestos, Julian Rosefeldt’s Manifesto is a collage of artistic declarations of the 20th century, reinterpreted as poetic monologues that provoke timeless questions about the artist’s role in society. The 13 scenes that compose Manifesto draw on manifestos of more than 50 artists from the past century. The material is woven together into dramatic soliloquies that highlight specific movements or schools of thought. The texts are brought to life by Cate Blanchett, who embodies 13 different roles in a kaleidoscopic series of characterizations ranging from a funeral orator to a TV anchorwoman to a corporate CEO to a homeless man. Projected simultaneously on adjacent screens in a site-specific presentation for the Park Avenue Armory’s drill hall, the text and images blend together in a highly theatrical cinematic installation that recaptures the defiant spirit of its source material for a contemporary audience.