VMA
2015
The film and public performance VMA borrows its title from the emergency broadcast system of Sweden (Viktigt meddelande till allmänheten [Important Message to the Public]), which is supposed to warn the public of an alarming accident or impending foreign attack.
In a time when much public discourse has been reduced to rhetoric that no one listens to, it is time for a wake-up call. The film depicts a week during which every morning begins in the same way: Bigert & Bergström, sleeping in a custom-designed ambulance, are woken up by different groups of people in dire need of assistance. With flashing orange lights, the artists drive these needy people around, helping them to stage performances, receive health treatments, and provide art for therapeutic purposes. The ambulance is painted with green chalkboard paint that allows passers-by to leave comments on the car. The ambulance thus also constitutes a communal “speakers corner,” or a vessel for public speech.
VMA, 2015 Ambulance, sirens, chalkboard paint, chalk, choir, ear-cleaning devices, knitted octopuses,incubator, funhouse mirrors, megaphones, dimensions variable VMA, 2015 14 min. HD
STILLS FROM THE FILM
Photo: Lars Siltberg
artists’ sketches
SCREENINGS
Goethe Institute, Thessaloniki, 30 Jan 2015
Swedish Film House, Stockholm, 13 April, 2015
Swedish Television, April-November 2015
Örebro Konsthall, as part of the exhibition “Prognosis,” 2018
CREDITS "VMA," 2015 14 min. HD "Viktigt meddelande till allmänheten / Important Message To The Public" Written and directed by Bigert & Bergström Director of photography Lars Siltberg Assisting camera Giorgos Chloros Editing Kristofer Nordin Assisting editor Salad Hilowle Sound design and mix Thomas Huhn, Ljudligan/Chimney Grading Chimney Animations Alphaville Production manager Emma Engström Studio assistant Jens Lind Produced by Bigert & Bergström with the support of SVT/K special, Charlotte Gry Madsen and Emelie Persson and Swedish Film Institute, Cecilia Lidin ©Bigert & Bergström 2014 Participants Brass musicians: Niklas Barnö, Goran Kajfeš, Per "Ruskträsk" Johansson, Johan Norin and Emil Strandberg Choire: rasmussons Vokalensemble Crotcheters: Ann Bergström, Elisabeth Floodman, Annika Hedström, Ulla Beth Lind and Seija Rudsberg Ear cleaners: Vinnss Chuah, Snow Ruoxue and Hongxia Zhang Neonatal unit: Family Cabreras, Vega Hertsius-Trygg and Cecilia Runesson Politicians: Karin Bröms, Wanda Hamburgo, Gustaf wilhelm Hellstedt and Vincent de Montleau Students and teachers at Lugnets skola, Ängen 3 Homless EU-migrants Special thanks to Föreningen HEM, Medicinhistoriska museet i Uppsala, Ssbf and Kila kyrka
