"Moving Image: An Art Fair of Contemporary Video Art" was on view in March of 2011.

I never knew there was such a thing as video art, so the art exhibit “Moving Image:  An Art Fair of Contemporary Video Art” was like walking through a doorway and suddenly finding oneself in a foreign country. Located inconspicuously at the Waterfront Tunnel event space on 269 11th Avenue, between 27th and 28th Street, the interior was of crimson brick walls and a high arched ceiling. Upon entering the doors, attendees were greeted by an information table and a heap of blue bags—the first piece of video art in the exhibit.

The piece that captured my eye, though, was a brilliant work of art called “War Mop” (1983) made by American artist Carolee Schneemann. At first glance, it looked like a haphazard mess of two staple household items: a mop and a television set. The mop, after hitting the top of the TV, was slowly reeled back up by an intriguing contraption after gravity had taken affect.

"War Mop" by Carolee Schneeman. Plexiglass construction, mop, motor, video monitor, Sculpture 24 x 62 x 20 inches, TV: 12 x 18 x 10 inches - 5:50 minutes, color, sound. 1983. Photo courtesy of PPOW Gallery.

I was awed by the smoothness of the construction that lifted the mop back up, which I later found out to be plexglass. I was breathless for a second as I had never seen glass used in that way before. It was shaped to perfection, the sides reminding me of the meanders of a trickling river. The usage of an outdated, “fat” television that showed desolate scenes of destroyed towns gave the piece a rather antique feel. It was as if these events had taken long ago or happened in a place that was behind modern technology. The television set gave the “War Mop” a rather glum aura.

And then there’s the mop. The ominous “thank!” it made as it hit the top of the television at precise intervals, over and over. The mop seemed tired, with its hairs falling limply as the motor lifted the mop back up, only to have it come crashing down. The mop seemed to represent the state of a war over time. In the beginning, the people and soldiers are generally hyped up as they want their side to win and put a lot of effort into preparing for the war/battle (such as the American Revolution, World War II, etc.) However, as time passes and the war continues on, the number of casualties increase and the idea of war becomes bleak (usually for the losing side, this is quicker.) The mop, which would have been pristine when first used, becomes abused by falling onto the television set. After getting hit repeatedly, the mop becomes limp—the result of exploiting the fervor of the masses. And as the images of destruction flicker past the television screen, the dull thump! of the mop continues on almost like a funeral march.