From 17 September to 8 January 2017, EYE presents the international group exhibition Celluloid, featuring work by artists who use and reflect on the qualities of 16mm and 35mm film stock and the so-called cinematic apparatus. At a time of rapid and almost total digitization of the moving image, the participating artists focus attention on the remarkable qualities of analogue film stock and attendant equipment. The artists areTacita Dean, João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva, Rosa Barba, and Luis Recoder & Sandra Gibson.
Celluloid. Tacita Dean, João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva, Rosa Barba, Luis Recoder & Sandra Gibson.
17 September 2016 to 8 January 2017
Tacita Dean is a renowned and leading campaigner for the preservation of these distinctive qualities of celluloid. In 2011 she made a huge and sensational 35mm installation for the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern, which now goes on show in the Netherlands for the first time. Portuguese artist duo João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva work with countless 16mm projectors and projections on remarkable and multi-layered film installations in which they deploy the medium in a philosophical/anthropological way. Rosa Barba investigates the cinematographic apparatus in her work and makes sculptural installations in which time plays an important role. Finally, the New York artist couple Sandra Gibson & Luis Recoder express the magic of celluloid in sculptures, installations and live performances that involve distorted lenses, special filters and discarded film material.
At a time of rapid and almost total digitization of the moving image, these filmmakers and artists focus attention on its material properties. Using 16mm or 35mm film stock and the attendant machinery of film, they breathe new life into analogue, physical celluloid. Emphasizing the unrivalled power of the projected, cinematographic image, they sing the praises of visual richness and nuances of colour in film material. Further, they reintroduce projectors and accompanying loop systems and projector stands into space. Such phenomena as light, time and movement, as well as distinctive elements like perforations, soundtracks and the horizontal ‘landscape’ format are eagerly analysed.
The exhibition highlights one of the core activities of EYE Filmmuseum, which itself possesses a vast collection of celluloid films and is an international leader in the field of research into the material aspects of celluloid and restoration techniques. This collection is housed in the new, state-of-the-art EYE Collection Centre, which has it’s official opening on the same evening as the exhibition. Scientific research will be carried out here into the management and conservation of film stock.
Accompanying the exhibition is a publication that explores the work of the participating artists in more detail and the phenomenon of celluloid from a historical perspective. With contributions from the artists themselves, and essays by Mark Nash, Cristina Cámara Bello, John Hanhardt, Marc Glöde, Jaap Guldemond and Philippe-Alain Michaud. Published in collaboration with nai010 Publishers.
The exhibition is also accompanied by an extensive programme of films, talks and events in the EYE film theatres. |
