Jonathan Horowitz (US)

Born in 1966, New York, United States
Lives and works in New York

‘The woods that see and hear’ includes Jonathan Horowitz’s video ‘The Body Song’ (1997) in which the artist manipulates Michael Jackson’s ‘Earth Song’ music video.

‘Earth Song’ was part of Jackson’s campaign to use his star power to promote environmental politics and animal welfare and it became a number one hit in the UK and Europe in 1995-96. The music video employs many visual tropes of environmental campaigns including dolphins trapped in fishing nets, logging trucks and the view of the earth from space. It uses special effects and reverse time to create a narrative that goes from destruction and despair to restoration and hope.

In Horowitz’s video, the reverse time of the music video is played against itself, in real time, thereby switching the narrative around. Instead of being cast as a Christ-like role as saviour of the planet, Jackson becomes a demonic figure causing havoc and chanting like a man possessed.