The Desert House
Filmscreening and Q&A with Julia Obleitner, Helvijs Savickis and Marvin Kanas.
Friday, September 5th, 7pm.
Documentary film
Color, DCP, 16/9
Lenght: 48 minutes
Language: English
Year of Completion: August 2023
supported by ‘Pixel, Bytes and Film 2022’ BMKÖS Program and ORF III
Produced in Austria, Shot in Texas, USA, 2022, 2023
The Desert House follows the architectural phenomena of Mobile Homes, exploring their role in shaping lives and landscape of the American Desert.
In America, there is a growing demand for prefabricated homes that can be customized online and
assembled in a factory. These houses are then lifted onto trucks and ready to hit the open road.
This architectural phenomenon generates new business opportunities and new rural communities
at the expense of traditional ways of building. Giving the illusion of individuality, a house that moves
unsettles the meaning of home, transforming dreams of stasis into ones of mobility.
Marvin Kanas is a video artist and cameraman who resides between Vienna and Marseille. His work explores the boundaries of documentary and oscillates between experimental film and digital 3D art.
Julia Obleitner is an architect and artist who operates in the realm of documentation, fiction, installation, film, and architecture. Her focus lies in addressing contemporary political, ecological, and urban issues. Her work has received numerous grants and awards and has been exhibited in various galleries and institutions, including Reykjavík, Barcelona, Riga, and Los Angeles.
Helvijs Savickis completed his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna with a Master’s degree in architecture. His research centers on humanity’s geopolitical footprints, their documentation, and interaction with them to alter and preserve the perception of collective memories.