OLIVER HARLAN CABLE 2020

Cable is a new video work by Newcastle Artist Oliver Harlan, who is currently stranded in the USA due to COVID19, life choices and his significant other. Cable explores the current political and historical moment in America through performed recreations of the news media and the American obsession with paranormal content. The work is about oversaturation, numbness and politics all set and filmed against the backdrop of the worst hit and managed country during this current pandemic. “I can barely watch the news anymore, but I will watch hours of Ghost Adventures” – Oliver Harlan.

Commissioned by The Lock-Up and presented in partnership with Newcastle Art Gallery. Supported by City of Newcastle.

This work premiered as part of Newcastle Art Gallery’s Last Fridays programming.

ABOUT OLIVER HARLAN

Oliver Harlan is a multidisciplinary artist whose work currently focuses on performance, installation and world-building. Oliver’s recent work includes co-creating Argo Pacifico, 2018 at The Lock Up Art Space with artist Jen Denzin in which they converted an entire gallery into a cruise ship. Other works by Oliver include: the video and installation work Vampire Mountain, 2019 in which Oliver green-screened himself and local dancer Peta Lumley onto a model castle he built and Candy Harlan, 2017 a deranged detective performance piece in which Oliver solved an improvised murder mystery in a dark room with just a flash light. Oliver maintains a digital art practice via instagram @oliverharlan in which many of his ideas and processes are explored weekly and he is trained in film production and music both of which feature heavily in his work. In his spare time Oliver likes to write pop songs and walk in Griffith park, in which he knows all the secret paths now thanks to COVID.