This week posted an opportunity for me to run my draft WIP portfolio past some of my peers and tutors. This gave me the chance to look at my initial ideas and see how well the worked flowed.

I had put together a draft portfolio and sent over a link. Overall this was received very well. Positive comments on the images were given and the general feeling was my work is heading in the right direction.

Some initial concern was raised re-inclusion of text. However after talking the idea through with Jesse, it was felt that this would not cause issues, rather the text just comments on the images, instead of becoming too much of a focus.

It was noted however that the flow of the images and use of video needs amending, as it’s not as fluid as it can be. I will now take this feedback and look to develop further my WIP images over the coming week.

One element of the WIP was the use of video to showcase underwater scenes. The main comments revolved around the first film shown on the WIP covering the following view.

One of my developing interest is to create living images. Basically, this is a video scene shot as a still image but moves through a period of time. Think timelapse etc.

The use of such a video in this module is proving itself worth exploring further. My reasoning behind this is that it gives me a practice that can take the viewer on a journey and give them the opportunity to come up with their own story for that journey.

Take for example this film. A reject from my WIP as it was out of focus. The concept was a ‘Journeys End’ – the leaf now held in place on the rock.

A single camera angle using a fast frame rate can give a very fluid, serene view of the river. This can act as a conduit to take the viewer on a journey. I choose not to use any music as I feel it enlightens the experience – you create your own soundtrack to the film in your mind.

The concept won’t work for everyone, but there is milage here I feel.

Through research on the subject, I am drawn to the work of Bill Viola – regarded by many as leading the establishment of video as a vital form of contemporary art and pushing such methods beyond expected limits.

Often using large screens or projections, Bill Viola’s work is seen by many as a benchmark for bringing such art forms to the modern age.

I find Viola’s work Ascension – shown below – as being one of his pieces that most resonates with my own practice. The use of a slowed down sequence of film really encaptures the moment of ascension and brings in details that normally would not have been seen.

As the man first falls through the water, the sense of shock and struggle for air is clear. On his ascension, the will to escape is eclipsed in a feeling of poetry, peace and tranquillity that grabs at the viewer.

The audio is also slowed down, this again complements and comments on the piece and does make me think around the use of such an effect in my work.

Bill Viola – Ascension – Crucifixion, Redemption or Resurrection?

I now feel very much more confident in introducing a contemporary and fine art element into my work. Largely with the aim of exhibiting work in a similar way to Bill Viola’s use of projection and large screen interactive work.

This is not a practice I had considered until recently. Becoming more inspired by the feedback I have had from viewers of my work.

Take this for example:

I now see that there is scope to combine my main practice and theories of work from the river with a fine art and video collaboration. With practice, I could much improve on the above image and move on to create something more alive.

I am now starting to see a way forward.

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References:

• Bill Viola. Ascension. 2000 – Crucifixion, Redemption or Resurrection? Source media 
• Strickland, Carol. 2002. You won’t find these videos at Blockbuster – source media