John Cage

A sonic innovator or an expert on chance? A writer or an anarchist? A specialist in mushrooms or a performance artist? A Zen master or a cook? John Cage was all of these things. On the occasion of his centenary in fall 2012, this documentary by Allan Miller and Paul Smaczny pays tribute to the most fascinating American avant-garde composer John Cage. Shot in America, Germany and Japan, the program premieres rare archival footage; presenting concert excerpts and a set of short episodes, featuring associates of Cage and contemporary artists, playfully delineating different aspects of John Cage. The documentary features interviews with Yoko Ono, David Tudor, Christian Wolff, Steffen Schleiermacher, Irvine Arditti, Toshio Hosokawa, Mayumi Miyata, Calvin Tomkins and many others.

In the 60's media flooded the art world and gave artists new means and methods for a cultural revolution. Leading the scene of avant-garde art were innovators such as Robert Rauschenberg, George Segal, Claes Oldenburg and Andy Warhol. American Art in the 1960s follows said artists and many others as they move through pop art, abstract expressionism, collage, sculpture and expressionistic cubism.

With his depiction of the American flag, Johns revolutionised the American art scene and became a pioneer of Pop Art and Minimalism. The film introduces the unique artist, his work, his intentions and his career. Not only Johns has his say, but also critics, curators and people from his circle such as Cage, Cunningham and Castelli.

2019 marks the centenary of legendary American choreographer Merce Cunningham. This poetic film traces Merce’s artistic evolution over three decades of risk and discovery (1944–1972): from his early years as a struggling dancer in postwar New York to his emergence as one of the most visionary and influential choreographers worldwide.