Do We Have to Play this Game/Cut

Do We Have To Play This Game?, Kristian De La Riva and Emily Russell and Emily Russell and Cut, Kristian De La Riva Animation, B/W, Sound, 5 and 3 min, UK, 2006/09. Kristian De La Riva and Emily Russell’s Do We Have To Play This Game?, describes through a series of rotoscoped animated self-portraits, the sadomasochistic rituals of power that underlay all sexual relationships. This theme is further explored within Riva’s latest solo work, Cut, which explores the sense of trauma experienced after a significant personal loss, through the cartoonesque violent dismemberment of the human body as a radical strategy for cutting away all that hurts. Kristian De La Riva recently exhibited work at the BCA Gallery, Bedford, the Globe Gallery, Newcastle, the Oriel Davies Gallery, Powys and at Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London. He was born in the United Kingdom and lives and works in London. Emily Russell recently exhibited work at the Foundling Museum, London, the Globe Gallery, Newcastle, Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno, Kettles Yard, Cambridge and at the Site Gallery, Sheffield. She was born in the United Kingdom and lives and works in London. DVD 2 includes the featurette 'Interview with Kristian De La Riva and Emily Russell' with Gary Colcough and Dan Smith, directed by Gordon Shrigley.