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LAUREN REA
Video Project
"Symphonic Body"
https://www.instagram.com/p/BR1rVfZgtfC/?taken-by=lauren.rea
1. I would follow my subject for no more than 5 minutes.
2. I must maintain at least 2 meters from my subject at all times.
3. The subject must not know I am following them
This video explored the dynamic of a shared or public space by attempting to activate it, achieving what it meant to, However, I do not feel that a static film enhanced the experience - perhaps by adding music it would create a sense of movement within static film.
Anastasia Pottinger, an American photographer who explored the body of an 100 year old woman. I found that her use of high contrast and essence of ambiguity were highly influential, allowing me to incorporate themes of sexuality and body image, moreover linking to my concept of obsessive thought.
Vito Acconci, "Following Piece", 1969, was a performative piece that explored the boundary between private and public spaces by following strangers until they enter a place of residence, such as a house. This developed a very interesting dynamic between space, subject and artist, conveying how space can manipulate us, linking to the idea of obsession of stalking. This played an important role when deciding group projects for the first task, which we decided to split up for, creating three separate videos to create a single body of work. For my video, it was important to have a set of rules:
This static film is linked to a project I did in December (See, "The Skin Deep Experiment") By exploring the body as a material. However, this static film created a sense of ambiguity, blurring the lines between "too fat" and "too thin." In regards to space, this project seemed to create a non-space, or a space between spaces, adding classical music that adds, not only movement, but also an air of comedy.
This video explored spontinacity and the applcation of people within both public and private places. The process was to call my friend to see where she was and then run to her, showing the borders between private and public spaces. There was a sense of tension in not being able to perfectly see what was happening, contrasting the artificial light and natural darkness to create an interesting visual. I also cnsidered adding an audio over the top, yet the sound effects of me running are an interesting element.
"Kitchen Skin"was a short black and white film from 1989 set in a kitchen where a woman finds something in her kitchen sink. I was inspired by this style, yet I wanted to explore the private space of living alone in my house, giving the inanimate kitchen objects a sense of agency, almost if they had a will of their own. This was the most effective film so far and I hope to continue this style to inform my Final Film...
Using audio was quite challenging, using the sound of my voice as I ran down my street - a public space at 3 AM - WHICH activated the space in an unconventional way. As it was so late at night, the space almost seemed private as I was the only one there. The sound of my breathing also acted as a sort of measurement, successfully evoking a hypnotic or rythmic sense fro the viewer.
For this project, I was tasked to make a series of static, audio and 5x5 films that explored space and sound in the context of public or private places...
"The Reality of Living Alone - Part 2 "
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTbjRn-AlZd/?taken-by=lauren.rea
This was my final film and incorporated the strongest points from my other speculative experimental films, allowing me to create a cohesive film and narrative, using adobe premiere in post production. I was inspired by the first video I shot in this style, yet I wanted to explore the private space of living alone in my house, rather than be enclosed in a kitchen. The innanimate objects that appear in the shots are meant to gain a sense of personality or agency, almost if they had a will of their own. This was the most effective film, incorperating the best elements of all my experimental films, using the sound of static creating a engaing 25 seconds of film.
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