She exploded on to the film world with her film Dyketactics in
1974 which was the first lesbian film made by an out lesbian and
containing real sex between two women. As a result it was shown to
female only audiences in the early years. It is worth noting that
dyketactics is urban slang for the recruitment and conversion of
straight women to a lesbian lifestyle.
In her 30 years of filmmaking Hammer has made 80 films and she
continues to innovate and refresh the experimental film form. " I'm
curious and there is so much wealth and richness of ideas,
concepts, places, people in this world I can never embrace it
all. Each exploration seems to lead to either a photograph,
installation, experience alone (if experience can ever be alone),
or film/video. I am so lucky to be alive and to appreciate
that fact," she told me when I interviewed her live at the
Tate.
But although she literally started the queer film canon her works
are not restricted to lesbian sex and sexuality. Exploring the
lives of people who are on the margins or excluded from mainstream
culture like the South Korean women who practice the dying art of
deep sea diving without breathing aparatus in Diving Women of
Jeju-do (2007) or her exploration of cancer and hope in A Horse Is
Not A Metaphor (2008).
Like most pioneers the road to iconic status has not been easy, as
Barbara explains: " I was totally rejected and the lesbian-specific
work was rejected as well up until the mid 80s; then I
broadened my landscape and made work about geography as well as
identity. It was a long hard struggle to gain recognition in the
art world. This has now come to fruition with retrospectives at
MoMA (2010), TateModern ( 2012) and Jeu de Paume (coming this
June, 2012).
Not just content to make films, Barbara Hammer has written her
memoirs, Hammer!
Making Movies out of Sex and Life. The book is a personal story
set against the backdrop of lesbian herstory of politics, sex wars
and making art. Barbara has never been afraid to be brutally honest
about her life in her work often participating in the sex
scenes. "I can't ask anyone else to be nude and perform
sexuality in a film unless I am willing to be in the frame
myself. Another thing is that many of my films are
autobiographical. It would be absurd to ask someone to play myself
while I am behind the camera."
Barbara Hammer has stayed firmly within the avante garde and
experimental cinema world bringing to that arena a sense of urgency
through political engagement and sexual desire and explorations of
the complexity of identity. "If you live an experimental lifestyle,
there is no choice as I see it but to use an experimental form.
That means the form is always changing, not fixed, but exciting and
fluid. That's the basis of my life and my films."
Barbara Hammer hands down her experience and wisdom each summer at
The European Graduate School (EGS) in Saas-Fee, Switzerland and I
asked her what advice she would give to newbie filmmakers. "Believe
in yourself, your ideas and don't look to anyone else for
approval. Work hard as art is a discipline, not a leisure
activity. Be strategic and recognize the world you live in. You can
wear two hats: as a small business that is woman owned (to be sure
you get paid for your work); and a creative artist that no one can
own."
Barbara Hammer - The Fearless Frame runs until 26 February
Barbara Hammer
website
Barbara Hammer Vimeo
Channel
