The Long Weekend
Posted: May 23rd, 2009 | Author: graggregator | Filed under: Graf | No Comments »If you’re in or trekking into London this Bank Holiday Weekend make sure you don’t miss the remaining 3 days of the 4 day free arts festival at the Tate Modern. The theme of this year’s UBS Openings: The Long Weekend is ‘Do It Yourself’ and is inspired by the Arte Povera and Post-minimalist artworks in the the new Energy and Process Collection displays.
Asides a short run of Federico Fellini films including 8 1/2 as well as a selection of shorts by a range of Italian directors there’s also a rather fascinating piece by Los Angeles-based artist Jennifer West – the film ‘Skate the Sky Melon Grab’ which was created by a group of skaters who rode a ramp in the Turbine Hall, their movements making impressions and marks upon strips of ink and paint laden celluloid to produce a fascinating and vibrant work.
West explores the medium of film and in particular methods for transferring image and ultimately, mood, emotion, conception and idea without the use of cameras. Harking back to the very birth of photography, her works remind me somewhat of the faked Turin Shroud which common knowledge has it was created via a simple pinhole camera and photosensitive chemicals – most probably silver nitrate.
Expressionist in both intention and conception her work manages to capture the essence of the understated moment, primarily unstaged or at least with an allowance made for an acknowledgement of the chaotic nature of events if not life it self, her highly reactive and intuitive films have managed to break the mould of many former experimental film makers by tipping a nod (at the very least) to the rise of urban art and art pauvre.
The show also includes Climb over and explore – the 1971 landmark installation by Robert Morris and live works + sound installations by the late avant garde composer Luigi Nono. Well worth a visit if you’re in the capital this weekend.
Tags: experimental art, experimental movies, Felini, film, L.A, skateboard, skater, Tate
