LARP LIFE (w/ Ben Werther)
Episode description
Ben Werther is a conceptual artist, born in Nashville and living in New York, whose new exhibition at No Gallery, “WHEN YOU CAN NO LONGER SPEAK, SING ME A SONG.” , presents a fascinating sequence of photographs that initially look like on the ground photojournalistic documents of armed combat. Upon further inquiry, however, you learn that these images were captured during Werther's attendance at a number of MilSim LARP rituals, in which Americans don military fatigues and arm themselves with airsoft rifles and pantomime military conflict. The exhibition also offers the work in book form, along with the cryptic writing of the artist complicating the images' meaning.
Here, Adam and Ben speak about the work, MilSim, the cultural condition of LARPing and identity craft, Thomas Ligotti True Detective Season 1, mythology, Joseph Campbell, and more.
SOUNDTRACK:
Gak "Gak 1"
Veles "A Dark Dream"
Point Blank "Prone to Bad Dreams"
Engurdetz "Det ar Dumt"
Fields of the Nephilliim "Moonchild"
Rhythm and Sound "King in my Empire"
LINKS
Ben Werther at No Gallery
Ben's Instagram: @neverben