Cameron Jamie expresses his fascination for contemporary rites stemming from popular culture through his drawings, photographs, and films. Those customs constitute the basis of his inspiration for a social study on the clash between daily violence and the dullness of middle-class life. He was brought up in a suburban town identical to hundreds of others near Los Angeles - "a living Hell" in his own words [1] - and has been living in Paris for several years. The artist takes advantage of his personal experience to consider the cultural characteristics of both sides of the Atlantic with detachment, revealing unexpected connections in the process. Whether considering the Halloween festivities, which date back to ancient Celtic rituals, or the Joan of Arc celebrations in Paris, which conjure up images of nationalist parades while oozing with consumerism (Cameron Jamie first heard the famous name in a fast-food restaurant boasting  "Joan of Arc-style" French fries), Jamie draws elements from his study to underline the specificities of each culture. More importantly, he also focuses on the fact that the individual finds in such occasions an ability to conceal, if only for a moment, his/her actual background by taking up a fantasy identity. Supported by visually and sonically powerful soundtracks, composed by the likes of The Melvins and Keiji Haino, Cameron Jamie's films are poignant depictions of startling beauty and radicalness.

[1] Alex Farquharson, The Darkness, Frieze, Mai 2004