[SL] ~ 2006

gazirababeli.com

Gazira Babeli is an artist who lives and works in the virtual world of Second Life. She has earned attention and respect with her provocative performances which explore the issues of the body, space and identity in virtual worlds.But Babeli’s main work is Gazira herself, and the knowing manipulation of her legend, as shown in the video triptych Saint Gaz’ Stylite, which mixes hagiography and slapstick, surrealism and country music, to tell the story of her life behind the screen, midway between isolation and sociality, asceticism and temptation.

Babeli has taken part in many festivals and exhibitions, both inside and outside Second Life (Peam, Pescara 2006; Deaf, Rotterdam 2007; Performa 07, New York - with the collective Second Front). The retrospective Collateral Damage, put on in Second Life in a museum-sized venue, attracted more than one thousand visitors.

More infos: http://www.ciac.ca/magazine/archives/no_28/oeuvre2.htm

“Saint Gaz’ Stylite - The Third Temptation” ~ 2007

Digital video.

Courtesy Fabio Paris Art Gallery, Brescia

“Saint Gaz' Stylite - The Third Temptation” ~ 2007

“Gaz Of The Desert - Pieta” ~ 2007

Lambda print.

Courtesy Fabio Paris Art Gallery, Brescia

“Saint Gaz' Stylite - The Third Temptation” ~ 2007