Just over a week after New York's Museum of the Moving Image shut down Shia LaBeouf's performance piece, HEWILLNOTDIVIDE.US, it appears the installation has found new life. According to a statement released Saturday by LaBeouf alongside collaborators Rönkkö and Turner, the work is heading to the El Rey Theater in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The trio released a joint statement, via LaBeouf's website:
The NYC-based edition of HEWILLNOTDIVIDE.US was subject to rapid change and constant threats from outside influences. The museum and NYPD pledged to protect the livestream demonstration in the wake of a pushback at the site from Donald Trump supporters and neo-Nazis, but a confrontation between LaBeouf and detractors led to the actor's arrest in late January.
With growing concern over the protest becoming a breeding ground for violence, the Museum of the Moving Image chose to withdraw support for the protest. Explaining their decision, the museum said HEWILLNOTDIVIDE.US was becoming, "a serious and ongoing public safety hazard," despite claims to the contrary from the creators and their supporters.
LaBeouf spelled out his initial frustration at the decision with a simple image on his Twitter account:
The participatory performance artwork, in which people are invited to show up and chant, "He will not divide us!" for as long as they wish, is unlikely to change at the new locale. Removed from the chaos of New York City, the live stream might have a better chance of lasting in its new home in New Mexico.
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