Sleeping with the Devil: Videos by Reza Abdoh

Reza Abdoh (1963–1995) was a firebrand, impresario, and artist known for his large-scale, multimedia experimental theater productions staged in abandoned and provisional spaces. Active in Los Angeles and New York City throughout the 1990s, Abdoh specialized in using repetition and spectacle in ways that were simultaneously overwhelming and disarming. His work often drew comparisons to the avant-garde theater of the 1970s, particularly the productions of Richard Foreman and the Wooster Group; however, Abdoh carved out his own distinct voice, blending collaged text, rigorous repetition, and a pastiche of languages drawn from both mainstream and subcultural realms.

“Part of the effect is that it needs to be all-encompassing, it needs to envelop you. A lot of people hate it. A lot of the criticism of my work is that it's loud,” Abdoh once explained in an interview. “But I belong to a rock-and-roll generation. I belong to a TV generation. I can’t help it.”

In addition to his theater work, Abdoh created several videos during the 1990s, often in collaboration with his longtime friend and video designer Adam Soch. KAJE is proud to present a series of taped performances and original videos by Abdoh January 30th—February 2nd.

Doors at 7:30PM | Screenings at 8PM Nightly