the PaintBall project day 15

wafaabilal.com
Iraqi born artist Wafaa Bilal has become known for provocative interactive video installations. Many of Bilal's projects over the past few years have addressed the dichotomy of the virtual vs. the real. In Domestic Tension, viewers can log onto the internet to contact, or shoot, Bilal with paintball gun

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• :
• raq
• war
• Iraqi
• artist
• paintball
• game
• interacitve
• wafaa
• bilal
• domestic
• tension

[karebu]

may i know how much cost are you running into?

[mewafaa]

I am almost spending $200-300 on daily operational cost

wb

[Slocketman]

You might want to try contacting the major paintball manufacturers for sponsorship, or if they would just donate some cases of paintballs.

Lots of manufacturers here:

tinyurl com 2hd9ur

Or at least use some cheaper paint, that RPS All-Star is expensive! You should be able to find cheap stuff at $20 per 2000rnd case.

[ricree]

I think that a lot of people don't get how disturbing it would be just to have the shots going off. I imagine that there are a lot of people who would not shoot at him, but would still fire if it was pointed somewhere else. Until I watched some of the videos, it didn't really sink in how much of an effect there would be.

[ricree]

20,000 paintballs? I really hope that this guy's room is well ventilated.

[cosmicsiren]

I think that is part of the point of this experiment - to show how people distance themselves from the consequences of their actions. It's easy to shoot someone when you're not facing them.

[jmseyal]

that's a great point, i think a lot of the fire is meant in a completely non-malicious way. lately i've just been watching the chat on his website, losts of interesting social interactions...

[counterculturemusic]

I think there is a third group besides the violent and the nonviolent visitors of your site, that is those who find it fascinating that they can fire a paintball gun from miles away.

[jmseyal]

this is one of the most important and emotionally affecting works of art being made right now, in these violent and horrible times we live in. wafaa, you are a hero; and as a young artist, an american from Islamic background, and an avid videogamer, i want to thank you for having the courage to do what you are doing. you've taught me things about myself.