American Tan

Dream America (alternative versions)

Dream America is a series of eight films from the last eight decades, curated to accompany American Tan at Dolph Projects. ‘While not necessarily my favourite films – some are very flawed – they do encompass something of the essence of America’s seductiveness.’

These are alternative versions of the paintings shown in that exhibition.

Wild at Heart (David Lynch, 1990)
The 1980s do the 1950s in this interpretation of Barry Gifford’s Deep South, pulp fiction. Nicholas Cage is Sailor Ripley, a misunderstood man who is intent on expressing his individuality. His snakeskin jacket refers to Marlon Brando in Tennessee Williams’ The Fugitive Kind (Lumet, 1959). His Elvis impression is near faultless. ‘Treat me like a fool, treat me mean and cruel, but love me…’