Martinez, Charles

Taka Iimura Interview Interview

Taka Iimura, a Japanese film and video artist who spent more than ten years in the United States, discusses his practice and the independent film/video scene in Japan; his early work includes Junk (Standard 8, 1962) and later pieces include Line A,B,C,D,E (1972, revised 1980), Talking in New York and Talking Picture, and he screened work at gallery 360 in December 1982. The interview addresses influences (Dada/Surrealism, Western underground film), exhibition infrastructure (Image Forum, Seibu studio 200), lack of government subsidies, technical approaches (photographed image, sync sound, direct address) and political activity (demonstrations against the American military treaty).