Oríllese a la Orilla is a six-channel video installation in which Mexico City policemen are recorded in situations with variable modes and degrees of manipulation.

 

In Poli I, Okón arranges a confrontation with a policeman causing an absurd fight that starts with an argument of whether he is allowed to point the camera at the policeman and escalates into an array of violent, yet playful, insults that highlight many of the social conflicts common in the city.

 

For Poli II, Okón with the help of a walkie-talkie, intercepts a highly sexualized radio conversation between two policemen as they sat in their parked patrol cars and discussed their plan to invite some girls to have sex with them.

 

For Poli III, Okón joins a policeman in his private booth and engages in a bizarre conversation.

 

Poli IV features a policeman who was simply asked to give a demonstration of his baton for the camera. He puts on an impressive performance intertwining his weapon handling abilities with short, but intense, interludes of crotch rubbing.

 

In the case of Poli V, Okón hires a policeman to do a "square-dance".

 

In Poli VI, Okón hires a policeman to pose as if he is being mugged by three civilians. Neighbors call the police and Okón, keeping on his camera, is arrested by patrolmen whom he bribes to be released.

Video Installation.

Series of 6 videos:

 

Poli I.

Vertical projection or flat screen.

Sound.

Duration: 4:14 minutes, loop.

Dimensions: variable.

 

Poli II.

Projection or flat screen.

Sound.

Duration: 1:26 minutes, loop.

Dimensions: variable.

 

Poli III.

Vertical projection or flat screen.

Sound.

Duration: 7:02 minutes, loop.

Dimensions: variable.

 

Poli IV.

Vertical projection or flat screen.

Sound.

Duration: 2:42 minutes, loop.

Dimensions: variable.

 

Poli V.

Vertical projection or flat screen.

Sound.

Duration: 4:07 minutes, loop.

Dimensions: variable.

 

Poli VI.

Projection or flat screen.

Sound.

Duration: 5:39 minutes, loop.

Dimensions: variable.

Articles & Interviews about Orillese a la Orilla.

 

Adaptive Behavior. Adaptive Behavior (brochure), New Museum, New York. 2004. [PDF]

Ortiz Torres, Rubén. Poder corrupción y video. Reforma, pp 6. June 27. [PDF]

De la Torre, Mónica. Pull Over! The Art of Yoshua Okón. BOMB Magazine. USA Winter 2001. [PDF]

Villarreal, Rogelio. De Policias y Bailarines: Videos de Yoshua Okón. Revista Curare No.16 Sacramentos. México. 2000.[PDF]