This Unfortunate Thing Between Us: Phil Collins

This Unfortunate Thing Between Us: Phil Collins

Outside our entrance two second–hand caravans are hosting the UK premiere of Phil Collins’ video installation based on his recent eponymous performance. Originally presented in 2011 at the Hebbel am Ufer theatre in Berlin and on German public television, This Unfortunate Thing Between Us consists of two live broadcasts.

Hosted by a crew of actors and porn workers, and featuring live music by Gruff Rhys and Y Niwl, This Unfortunate Thing Between Us follows the logic and grammar of the teleshopping channel, including pitches, sales and phone–ins. Instead of commodities, viewers are offered a choice of experiences at promotional prices. Phil Collins’ films, photographs, installations, and live events often use elements of low–budget television and the entertainment industry to dissect the political and aesthetic implications of popular visual formats. His collaborators have ranged from former teachers of Marxism in the GDR and anti–fascist skinheads in Malaysia, to fans of The Smiths that span three continents and disco–dancing Palestinians.