Jerk (Grand format)

With the book and the CD Jerk // Through Their Tears, Gisèle Vienne, Dennis Cooper, Peter Rehberg, and Jonathan Capdevielle translate their theatrical collaborations (I Apologize, Kindertotenlieder, Jerk, This Is How You Will Disappear, a.o.) into this unique multi-media presentation.

The package includes an English language recording of the sound piece Jerk, directed by Vienne, from a story by Cooper with original music by Rehberg. It's performed by Capdevielle and Cooper himself.

Jerk is an imaginary reconstruction - strange, poetic, funny and somber - of the crimes perpetrated by American serial killer Dean Corll who, with the help of teenagers David Brooks and Wayne Henley, killed more than twenty boys in the state of Texas during the mid-70s. Brooks, while serving a life sentence in prison, presents a puppet play that is that reconstruction of these crimes.

In the book, Vienne and Cooper create a new photo sequence which resonates with the sound piece. Titled Through Their Tears, it is culled from photographs and dolls by Vienne.

Jerk // Through Their Tears is a multi-faceted exploration of these artists' combined interest in representing the emotional dissonance of confused, self-destructive, sensation seeking teenagers and the adults who romanticize their darkness, stylize their unhappiness, and take charge of their destruction.