I first heard of the controversial David Choe through his totally addictive Thumbs Up series on vbs.tv. In addition to being the type of guy who will inject testosterone into his biceps before running across the Mexican border, he also happens to be an amazing artist who, yes, at times, dabbles in graffiti (not that we’re into that sort of thing).
The documentary of his fucked-up life, Dirty Hands, sold out pretty quickly at the Asian Film Festival some time ago, but lucky for us the Roxie is screening it all week starting yesterday until Friday. Check out the trailer and details below.
Street artist, petty thief, porn illustrator, born-again Christian, corporate shill—these are a few of the complex sides of artist David Choe as portrayed in DIRTY HANDS. DIRTY HANDS is 93 minutes and is not MPAA rated.
Director Harry Kim first began filming Choe’s exploits eight years ago, turning footage of freeway and bus-stop graffiti bombings into the short film WHALES AND ORGIES. DIRTY HANDS follows Choe’s remarkable fortunes since then—from ghost writing lesbian fiction to displaying his art in ice cream parlors to selling out multi-million dollar gallery shows. DIRTY HANDS benefits from a staggering amount of video that seemingly details every major and minor moment of his life. Besides chronicling Choe’s ever-changing coifs, this obsessive Kim shapes a mesmerizing “warts and all” sketch of the artist’s endless contradictions, failures and triumphs, ranging from this darkest moments in a Japanese jail to his lucrative cachet in hipsterati circles, to his troubled relationship with a long-term girlfriend. Choe has painted with aerosol, blood, urine and soy sauce. DIRTY HANDS captures Choe as one of contemporary art’s most darkly enigmatic figures.
For more info: www.dirtyhandsmovie.com Directed by Harry Kim. Running Time: 93 mins. Showtimes: Nighty at 6:10, 8:00 & 9:50. Additional Saturday & Sunday matinees at (2:00) & 4:00,
[...] head’s up on the Roxie’s showing all week of a documentary of David Choe’s life and [...]
Kid is a sav in his own twisted ways
Horribly long film. Great artist. I think his life is completely messed up and he needs to take responsibility for his actions.
This is a good sample of the best and the worst of what Los Angeles has to offer.
there is a di nosaur in the Congo….ive seen it twice and barely survived. I have one photo