asses.masses

At this point, we intend to present UNO Fest 2020 as planned, but have paused all ticket and pass sales. Please check back for an update on ticket sales on April 2. Read our full statement on COVID-19.

asses.masses is a solo performance for multiple players about sharing the load of revolution.

Follow multiple asses as they protest against their Human oppressors in this video game performance that digs deep into the obsolescence of the manual labourer, digital play, and virtual revolution.

In each performance, audience members step forward from the herd, seize the means of production (i.e. a video game controller), and lead us through a world of asses (donkeys) in pursuit of a life worth living.

Created by the artists behind culturecapital, the Canada-wide trading card game about the performing arts economy, and videocan, the online video archive of Canadian performance, Milton Lim and Patrick Blenkarn’s collaborations consistently reimagine the relationship between games, media, and performance.

Accessibility:

This performance is subtitled. All directions appear in text format on the video game screen. Character dialogue is subtitled. Note, the show contains flashing light effects.

About the artists:
Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim’s ongoing collaborations constitute a framework for investigating labour and value, utilizing game mechanics in performance, and exploring alternative modes of discourse. Their projects are heavily informed by their respective trainings in performance making, critical thinking, and game creation. In addition to multimedia works, they are are also creating a performing arts economy trading card game called culturecapital and an online video archive of Canadian performance called videocan.

Patrick Blenkarn (co-creator) is an interdisciplinary artist and director of performance. His recent works feature sustained investigations into the history and function of the book, the politics and imperialism of the English language, and critiques of nationalism. His projects have recently been featured in film festivals, galleries, and performance festivals, including Risk/Reward (Portland), SummerWorks (Toronto), rEvolver (Vancouver), the Festival of Recorded Movement (Vancouver), and RISER Project (Toronto). Patrick has a degree in philosophy, theatre, and film from the University of King’s College and an MFA in interdisciplinary art from Simon Fraser University. patrickblenkarn.com

Milton Lim (co-creator) is a Vancouver-based artist whose output spans performance, new media, dance, installation, and video art. His work is engaged with global politics, the cataloguing/archiving/ indexing of public data, and resource allocation. These thematic interests are bolstered by a continued interest in game mechanics, typography architecture, and high-frequency content. He holds a BFA (Hons.) in theatre performance from Simon Fraser University. He is Co-Artistic Director of Hong Kong Exile, an Artistic Associate with Theatre Conspiracy, the recipient of the 2016 Ray Michal Prize for Outstanding Body of Work, a previous Artist-in-Residence with the PuSh Festival (2016 – 2018). miltonlim.com