Everyday Daylight

Live online performance, 2021

Los Santos, the digital world of popular action game Grand Theft Auto V, isn’t just inspired by Los Angeles in terms of its cityscape. Like its real world counterpart, it’s also one of the most popular film sets in history: No other game has hosted as many machinimas - films recorded in video games - and game art projects.
Together with the audience, Total Refusal goes on an art walk - or rather drive - through the digital metropolis, touring the city spots which were used as film sets and performance locations. They shine a light on the practice of appropriating contemporary video games for artistic purposes and discuss the potential of art in deconstructing the mechanisms of hyperrealist media.
Strap in for a turbulent crash-course in the art of counter-playing and misusing the violent world of shooter games!

Concept and text: Leonhard Müllner, Robin Klengel, Michael Stumpf in collaboration with Ismaël Joffroy Chandoutis and Susanna Flock