PROFILE, ALEX DE VRIES 2008
At eighteen, Emile Zile, who grew up in Melbourne, Australia, had a cathartic experience. He was a member of the studio audience present at the recording of a television quiz, and was asked to participate as a candidate. At that moment, his interest in the quintessence of the medium television was given concrete shape in that Game Show. Everything he did after that was 'life after fame', to put it sarcastically. Emile Zile's performance in that Game Show makes an unforgettable impression, for that matter. You realize at once that in the world of the media he is a phenomenon. His qualities as a performer are obvious and he uses them to great effect. Actually, he is completely impossible in that sense. Seldom has there been seen a tv host more confused by a candidate completely stepping outside himself.Both during his training and in practice Emile Zile acquired a working method that, in a technical sense, is not exceptional in present-day visual art. He appropriates images that are broadcast, makes tapes of television programmes and edits them, puts together samples of images and sounds, performs as a VJ, et cetera. It is clear that, on the one hand, he takes up a critical position regarding what is offered, but that, on the other hand, he just loves it. It all started with short film loops, rather punky and referring to youth culture and an online graffiti project with a political twist.
Emile Zile's recent work recaptures confrontingly what is presented to us in the media. He recreates the images in a shape we do not know yet, giving the impression that the existing image is approached from behind. A revealing work from his hand is a film in which he has combined Pasolini's 'Salo' with the feature film 'United93' about the attack on the Twin Towers in New York on September 11, 2001. The subtitle of the one film has been given the sound and video track of the other. You don't believe your ears. You don't believe your eyes. This re-combination is so seamless that it is truly amazing, as if the scenarios of fiction and reality merge completely. You do not know any longer which is which.
- Alex de Vries, Amsterdam 2008