GOLUB: LATE WORKS ARE THE CATASTROPHES

"In the history of art, late works are the catastrophes." (Theodore Adorno)

Spanning 16 years from 1988-2004, The late works are the catastrophes concerns the discourse between artist, art and politics in the work of Leon Golub. Golub and his wife Nancy Spero - also an artist - provide the narrative, drive and ideology of the film. The main themes of Golub's life work concerned how we experience images of torture and the abuse of political power. During these visits to his studio a picture emerges of the highly creative work process of an artist who is intelligent, witty and immensely passionate about his metier.

Aware of the proliferation of images of torture and warfare in the modern media and the way we become numb to their significance, Golub sought to re-awaken that sense of horror in his audience through his work. He created vast tableaux depicting media photo fragments, death-squad assassinations or napalm victims to highlight what he called the 'disjunctiveness' of modern life. Through focusing on the art itself the film opens up wider themes of the misuse of power and the effect on its victims and in the light of revelations of the ill-treatment of prisoners in Iraqhighlights the visionary quality of this exceptional artist.