The Private view of the ‘Alien Nation’ exhibition at the ICA on the 16th of November was interesting… It was an exhibition about ‘Alien Art’ a direct homage to the 50-60’s early 70’s Alien movies which mostly reflected the anti-communist, xenophobic & anti-nuclear fears of the time.

Few masterpieces came out of that strand but vintage Serie B or Z movies completely outdated and so much visually enshrined in their time. The wacky special effects and the non-existent acting or dialogues were there to reinforce the feeling of uselessness those films carried throughout their non-glorious runs in theater. Although a mostly US phenomenon, Japan had its own version with the ‘Godzillas’ and only the maverick and young Turks of the late 70’s, 80’s with the likes of Lucas (Star Wars) Cameron (Terminator, Alien ) Ridley Scott ( Blade Runner, Alien) really took the genre seriously enough to invest the time and funds to create proper storyline and build new worlds…

It is hopefully the start of a wider campaign towards the recognition of sci-fi comic books, like Marvel, DC Comics… who can now command serious power in tinsel town, but have been overlooked by the art and literature establishment for decades. A good sci-fi movie is as good as his aliens or robots…should be the premise of any Do’s and Don’t of the Sci-fi rulebook. We had them in the top room with what seemed to be spaceship of a different order. Shinny made of metal pieces, jewellery and shinny artifacts…it does verge on the tacky but hey you are watching a spaceship here, so who is to say what is tackiness in the future? A wide range of artists, with the expected reference to Star wars and… Zapata…the Mexican revolutionary and his sidekick the under-commandant Marcos Downstairs… A few films, some paintings … a not homogeneous lot but a common thread that should enthuse a young and hip audience in search of space frisson. I recommend it if you are wandering towards the Mall on a dark afternoon. Just do not forget that laser beam of yours and those thigh-hugging Lycra pants.