Whilst in Edinburgh, i popped into some of the art galleries. I was looking forward to the national Scotland one, as it held both historical paintings and contemporary work. Yes, the things i saw in there were impressive but when looking back at very old work, i don't really get a sense of enlightenment from the work. I moved onto the contemporary part. what a disappointment. It literally held random pieces of art from all ages rammed into two room and put up like a 'scatterwall' <-- these are the worst things ever.
After leaving there disappointed, i walked past another small gallery with people having cups of coffee and i thought, hey lets pop in here. Yes, perfect. The unassuming and un-boasting galleries are the ones to go for. http://www.fruitmarket.co.uk/whats-on/current/ The Fruitmarket Gallery, the exhibition that was on was about light and perception. There were some interesting pieces of work on, how our brain and eyes change and adapt to what we are being presented with. However, it was a film by Tacita Dean that made it a worthwhile trip. What lured you in first was the inticing noise of the old fashion camera projector wheel turning round. Yes, sometime these machines can be over used and a bit like 'urgh of course they used that'. But it really added a new level onto her work. The film itself was of a lighthouse at dusk, the the light twirling round and the sea going past. It is repetitive, consuming, monotomous but captivating. Because of it continual seeming to repeat it places you in a trance like state, and when you think you can watch it no longer with another repeat, it changes. Now we are watching the sun at dusk with some birds flying, again, again, again. We are repeating this too. And when no more can be watched, the film changes again. Whilst this is all happening, the film has some sound to it, but it is the sound of the camera wheel turning continuously, almost beating your head with the mechanical sound which takes over all. You are lost to the sound. The senses can't cope with this hammering sound and repetitive film. It is too much, which may be why it is easy to sit there frozen and locked on the film. It is too hard to break contact with everything you have been exposed to.
For my work, this intensity would be too much. I need the safe comforting feeling to my film, because of its unsettling nature. But i like how Dean pushes the limits to how long you can watch something on repeat until it is too much, and then, only then, do you show a new frame.
After leaving there disappointed, i walked past another small gallery with people having cups of coffee and i thought, hey lets pop in here. Yes, perfect. The unassuming and un-boasting galleries are the ones to go for. http://www.fruitmarket.co.uk/whats-on/current/ The Fruitmarket Gallery, the exhibition that was on was about light and perception. There were some interesting pieces of work on, how our brain and eyes change and adapt to what we are being presented with. However, it was a film by Tacita Dean that made it a worthwhile trip. What lured you in first was the inticing noise of the old fashion camera projector wheel turning round. Yes, sometime these machines can be over used and a bit like 'urgh of course they used that'. But it really added a new level onto her work. The film itself was of a lighthouse at dusk, the the light twirling round and the sea going past. It is repetitive, consuming, monotomous but captivating. Because of it continual seeming to repeat it places you in a trance like state, and when you think you can watch it no longer with another repeat, it changes. Now we are watching the sun at dusk with some birds flying, again, again, again. We are repeating this too. And when no more can be watched, the film changes again. Whilst this is all happening, the film has some sound to it, but it is the sound of the camera wheel turning continuously, almost beating your head with the mechanical sound which takes over all. You are lost to the sound. The senses can't cope with this hammering sound and repetitive film. It is too much, which may be why it is easy to sit there frozen and locked on the film. It is too hard to break contact with everything you have been exposed to.
For my work, this intensity would be too much. I need the safe comforting feeling to my film, because of its unsettling nature. But i like how Dean pushes the limits to how long you can watch something on repeat until it is too much, and then, only then, do you show a new frame.