Exercise 1 -The fourth dimension
My thoughts on time: Time is much like place, dynamic and relevant to our transient emotion & perception. That is the reason the same period of time can seem to differ in length under circumstance, which depend on our individual experience as well as state of mind.
Have you thought about time in relation to artwork before? Time exists as a dimension in every art piece, or story. Art can sometimes “capture” or “stretch out” a specific moment in time
Have you already come across pieces that explore what time is? As soon as I read the question, Dali’s melting clocks and watches came into mind. They seen to represent the paradox of time and memory, or the manner in which mechanical, strictly measured clock time transforming into something subjective, fluid and flexible through human perception and experience.
Long player – Notes and interpretation
Jem Finer’s ‘Long player’ is definitely an interesting, time related art piece, especially since it is an ongoing, ever changing song as well as a social as well as experimental art project. As well as it successfully combines various ideas, medias and philosophical concepts into a grandiose art project.
I found the overall execution and ideas behind Long player very impressive, technicalities involved are rather overwhelming,
Astral inspiration is clearly observed by the positioning of the bowls, which represents planets in their orbit. As Finer explains in video interview: ‘the project was inspired by the complexity of time & space’ and the fact that the stars we look upon today, in reality existed light years ago. (J.Finer for Payne C. [Documentally video] available on : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhEI3FEvxU0, accessed 10/3/21). The spectators surround the installation while the project players actively participate in playing the bowls. The sheer size of the installation, within the site related atmospheric space of the light house seem an experience on its own.
When tuning to the music stream from the light house: I must admit that although I appreciate the project, I wasn’t very impressed with the sound produced. I love singing bowls, known for meditative and medicinal sound vibrations. I expected somewhat of a cosmic masterpiece, like this example by musician Lorelei : https://youtu.be/rTvGoqwYjxQ.
Bowls can sound amazing in numbers, yet in Long player, the unique sound of each bowl seemed lost, possibly even becoming slightly irritating, random pitched bowls are played, the sound isn’t very harmonic nor interesting.
Additionally, the beautiful Tibetan / Indian instrument felt somewhat a cultural appropriation and detached from its original purpose placed in a western, contemporary art piece. Long player’s music was slightly chaotic compared with the grand presentation, impressive concept and wonderful site-specific impression of the light house performance.
The outstanding length of the music is clearly a part of a carefully thought grand concept. A thousand years is a very long time frame considering the ongoing playing of the piece involves human participants and players
I feel skeptic towards some of the element involved: I am questioning whether the song algorithm truly repeats perfectly every 1000 years ? Who could even verify? and would they be able to recruit enough volunteers to sustain the project for that long ? How about during a pandemic ? Does it really matter as the composer, his children and grandchildren would all be dead before the end.
The choice of 1000 years, plus other overalls elements in this artwork seem strongly related to millennial era atmosphere, it takes me back to the social excitement and paranoia of the ‘year 2000’ and millennial turn. Remember the fears of ‘Bug 2000’?
I am left wondering whether the project would actually last more than 100 years, let alone the pretentious 1000, meanwhile I research and read that the project celebrated 20 years: McCabe K., (25/9/20) Time Out London [article] available at: https://www.timeout.com/london/news/a-musical-composition-designed-to-play-for-1-000-years-is-celebrating-its-twentieth-birthday-092520 accessed 10/3/20
These thoughts actually became a reflection on the far future, which became interesting thoughts: would the human race last 1000 years?
Exercise 2: Interpreting video art
Sam Taylor-Wood’s Still Life:
• Your initial response after first viewing.
• The media and form of the piece.
• Contextual information – what do you think has influenced this piece? Have a quick look at some of Taylor-Wood’s other work. Does this piece fit with those? Are there other artists working in a similar way?
• How does this piece comment on ‘time’?
My initial post viewing impression: The piece takes the viewer on a little time lapse tour, into the process of decay. Watching it sparks multiple emotions: ranging from curiosity and satisfaction to sadness & anxiety. There’s an unspoken understanding that although we are watching the decay of a fancy fruit bowl. It symbolizes the end of all living things, which eventually wither, die and decay.
Media and form comments: This is one of Taylor Wood’s signature video art pieces – Composed of extremely slow, time-lapse videos with slight gradual motion and movements. The videos are framed as paintings, creating the illusion of ‘living’ Venita paintings, as well as explore the boundaries between the mediums of painting and video art.
I believe ‘Still Life’, was influenced by Vanitas paintings as well as a reflection on the transiency of life. Wood’s had produced similar themed video art works including ‘A Little Death’, where we have the pleasure of viewing a rabbit corpse gradually decompose.
Video art is a great choice for the representations of animated Vanitas, as video images are capable of capturing subjects over a timeline and allows viewers to see the full process of death and decay. Leaving a detailed and slightly shocking perspective over the temporal nature of life. This piece manages to capture time and harness the effect of time.
Enjoying Taylor wood’s Vanitas inspired video art,, I continued my research and found more Vanitas inspired contemporary works. Here are some of my favorite artists: ‘Vanitas’ by Hans Op de Beeck, ‘Death Disco’ by Jimmy Galvin and ‘Nimbus’ by Hannah Matthews. Although the works are very different in subject and media. The resulting effect is similar to the one of the classic Vanitas paintings: A perspective onto the temporariness of momentary life and inevitability of death.
Creative Arts Today 