The largest survey of his work today, Praise of Folly throws a spotlight on most of Javier Téllez' (1969, Valencia, Venezuela) major films and installations of the last ten years.
As the son of two psychiatrists Venezuelan artist Javier Téllez grew up in an environment where the mentally ill were part of everyday life. His film projects involve close collaborative ventures with what are usually 'invisible' communities, such as psychiatric patients or people with disabilities, allowing them to participate in the work process in order to produce a dignified and non-stereotyped image of those who are stigmatized. Combining documentary and fictional elements, Téllez works together with these people to provide a fresh interpretation of classical myths, private and collective memories and historical references. His work lends a voice to those who are marginalized, outsiders and the disenfranchised in order to challenge the concept of what is normal and what is pathological in our society.
