Chris Moukarbel

Moukarbel made videos and contemporary art while living in New York.[1] His best known video art project World Trade Center was made as part of his graduate school thesis at Yale School of Art. Moukarbel acquired a bootleg script for a then upcoming Oliver Stone film World Trade Center and he shot his own version using student actors. The short film was released freely on the internet as a way to pre-empt the Stone film and caused a highly publicized lawsuit by Paramount Pictures.[12]

In a New York Times article about the art project Moukarbel said in the interview "My film was offered free on the Internet… It cost $1,000 to produce. We're at a place now where technology allows the democratization of storytelling."[13] After paramount blocked the distribution of the video it continued to be shown at Witte de With institute of Contemporary art who refused to comply with the court order.

His artwork has shown at Marianne Boesky Gallery,[14] Air de Paris, Witte de with[15] and Wallspace gallery among others.

Moukarbel co-directed the REM music video Everyday is Yours to Win,[16] The Drums, I Felt Stupid[17] and Joan as Police Woman's Start of my Heart.[18]

[20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]

Moukarbel was born in New Haven, Connecticut to Lebanese parents and lives between Los Angeles and New York.[26] He was in a relationship with Jake Shears, singer of the band Scissor Sisters, from 2004 until 2015.

He attended Corcoran School of Art and Yale School of Art.[27]

• Chris Moukarbel at IMDb
• Banksy Does New York
• The New York Times