Bekim Zeqiri / Intertitles

Intertitles is the first solo show by artist Bekim Zeqiri. A collection of large-scale paintings in ink, acrylic and house paint, Intertitles conveys a tension between absence and immediacy. The phrase Intertitles was first introduced in the silent film era and refers to a word or group of words that appear on-screen during a movie but are not part of the scene. These words and phrases are typically used to indicate imminent dialogue, describe action, or provide context to the action. 

Inspired by the mechanisms of theater – sketched set designs, written stage directions in a play script and the dialogue between actors – the written word in Zeqiri’s paintings is an element that moves the action forward or creates suspense while blurring the space between painting and performance. Continually seeking to challenge the viewer's assumptions about what is "real" and what is constructed, Zeqiri’s images question our commonly held social norms and hierarchies, using humor and irony to subvert these conventions.

The scale of Zeqiri’s work invokes a physical response. Large swaths of negative space illustrate an absence. The size of the canvases create an immediacy, as if sitting in the front of a movie theater under a looming image. By introducing intertitles into a single painted image, language provides additional context to the painting and invites the viewer to engage with both the visual and written aspects of the image. 

In the world of Intertitles, words are both precious and redundant; they point to the action while simultaneously leaving the viewer in a state of permanent intermission.