About the Exhibition

Best known for his feature length films, such as Taste of Cherry, Under the Olive Trees, and The Wind Will Carry Us; Sleepers (2001) is Abbas Kiarostami’s first video work, and perhaps most significantly, his first unedited motion picture. Sleepers, produced by Galerie de France and MK2, was first shown on the occasion of the 2001 Venice Biennale. Running 1 hour 34 minutes, the film depicts a man and woman in bed, asleep in the early hours of the morning. As time passes, the city life begins to stir and the ambient sound of traffic and noise on the street gradually increases. The couple’s movements are minimal. The observer is left as a voyeur, yet remains neutral. The DVD is shown as a projection on the floor, permitting the viewer to interact with a life-size representation of the scenario.