Jed Hilton

Artist Statement

Using found archival footage, Hilton’s practice utilises documentary video art to examine the socio-political affects of political ideology upon the population. By exploring the boundaries between experimental video art and conventional documentary narratives, Hilton uses a juxtaposition of text, sound and imagery to explore diverse themes of a rogue historiography. Forming an emotive connection for the audience that can be beguiling, frightening but most importantly a purely enjoyable experience that avoids the obscurantism of video art is something important to Hilton’s practice. These themes examine the political and social ideologies of past generations to distinguish the fallacy of ideology and highlight the dystopic realities they create. With influences rooted in commercial television and cinema, Hilton’s work intends to create an immersive experience for the audience which is accessible and not obscure. This approach lends itself to the propagandistic themes and ideas that the work explores and intends to create a sarcastic tone of enjoyability coupled with the grim and disturbing imagery and narratives that the videos tell.