Libertango is a series of photographs shot on the Internet. Khan in his own words: “What’s the difference between walking around town and taking pictures while we spend so much time on the internet and it’s not considered “original work” to document this huge part of our lives?” This game-changing statement in regards of image copyright, alters our view on being stalked by Facebook, Google, NSA, etc. but we agree to cookie settings in a blink of an eye without a complain.
These are no screenshot to be precise but original photographs taken from Khan’s computer screen including the dust particles and the glowing monitor raster. Light reflections and other interference on a drag queen’s legs, sitting on a park bench in Mexico’s south. Depending on the angle the picture was taken, we see a solarization effect that is very specific to LED.
Khan is playing with perspective, time and gender and at the same time, going into the private that is nothing but private anymore. Dancing with his satanic icons LaVey and Aleister Crowley- looking at the YouTube play-button as if it was an insect buggin’ him.
The Libertango look is neon, VHS, 80’s, and so is the song he picked as the title for this exclusive project.
Grace Jones, the original gender bender, sings in her version of the 1974 composition by Astor Piazzola: “Strange I’ve seen that face before, seen him hanging ‘round my door, like a hawk stealing for the pray, like a night waiting for the day”.
This describes the mood Khan is trying to convey. Endless walks trough the Internet, hunting for affection, love, or sex? Time slows down and it is already 5am in the morning and the sun is coming up.
Grace switches to French and asks in her demanding voice: “What are you looking for, meet death? Who do you think You are? You too hate life!”