It doesn’t look like a snappy title, but read it out loud and you’ll find that actually it is. This is a condition that I think could be a bit of a theme of Michael Rakowitz’s work. Take the subject matter of the upcoming Tate Modern Level Two Gallery exhibition. It doesn’t sound like it could have hit the nail on the head, but I bet that once it’s been and gone it’ll be a widely accepted reality.
The worst condition is to pass under a sword which is not one’s own is Rakowitz’s new project that examines the influence of science fiction and fantasy on Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s control. In particular, it looks into the impact of this type of western popular culture on the scientific and military developments that occurred during Saddam’s sabre rattling days. With Star Wars, Jules Verne and G.I. Joe all coming under scrutiny, it’s certainly got the makings of an interesting exhibition in the very least.
Michael Rakowitz’s The Worst Condition is to Pass Under a Sword Which is Not One’s Own opens at the Tate Modern on 22nd January 2010 and runs through to 3rd May 2010. I can’t wait to find out whether or not Saddam was meant to think of himself as The Emperor or Obi Wan Kenobi, because from what I remember he sort of filled both roles; he definitely attempted building a cheap knock of the Death Star (or so the weapons of mass destruction argument goes), but then he also hid his Jedi mind powers and light sabre skills in a cave for a while too.
