Len Lye "Free Radicals"

[bearcubproject]

there is just some thing about this!



[rafael81629]

anyone knows who this 3d effect was done? looks like bent wire.

[MLangan]

So wonderful. From what I understand, there are a couple of techniques at work here. The 3D-looking forms are supposedly created by pressing a wide-toothed saw to the black film leader, then scratching a design along the entire length of it, creating a design that shifts position from beginning to end.

[TheAllergyPokemon]

@MLangan when you say, 'scratching a design along the entire length of it', you must mean dragging the saw along the film, right? sorry, its just I'm doing a project at university about direct film animation and this piece is really inspirational; the 3D forms you talked about are a phenomenal to watch.

[MLangan]

@TheAllergyPokemon Not exactly-- Since the forms are isolated, repeated images as opposed to vertical lines that wave around from left to right (a la McLaren's "Begone Dull Care"), my guess is that he used a saw with teeth positioned at the same intervals of the film frames, so that each tooth will fall at exactly the same position in each frame if you hold the saw perfectly straight. Then he'd wiggle the saw just enough to scratch a small design on the frames, which results in a morphing design

[Beedlesanbos]

Simply stunning.

[cminor314]

Wow, couldn't disagree more with the last comment. This is a great film -- mesmerizing. He really captures the feeling of the drumming, and it's like watching a dance.

[Randidan]

stupid and BORING.....

[IamMaximilianKohler]

...

[vjfibro]

@luxmovingimage hey, your posts are getting flagged as spam ... you rule tho x

[atthetopofmyvoice]

thanks so much for posting this man.

[MachineHum]

I saw this off of an original 16 mm print, which was awesome.

[fpig1000]

Lye simply had a an eye for motion. He was fascinated by waves and forms and moving light from a young age. There's no trick to it, he did it from the top of his head. There's documentary footage of him making either this film (or an example of it) out there somewhere. He used a compass point and a metre steel ruler, I believe, but it's been a while since I saw it.

[mathcernea]

Catchy.

[D10010101]

Like to thank captainbronstain for putting this up. Been trying to see this again for a long time, the wonders of you tube. Shame Mr lye is not about today as I think he would be very interested in CG. Anyway very good and thank for uploading it ^-^/

[Redstar309Z]

This is one of THE MOST SEMINAL FILMIC WORKS for me. I cant think of any other media construction that has influeneced me more. AS a  New Zealander I am proud to even attempt to follow in the foot steps Of Lyes greatness a visionary and the most next level artist of his time. VIVA LEN LYE

[stonelenny]

@Redstar309Z One of my top ten movies in any length, technique or genre.

[gobeirne]

This film is one of 25 classic works selected in 2008 for the National Film Registry in the United States. According to the New Zealand Herald, "begun in 1958 and completed in 1979, Lye made scratches directly into the film stock. These scratches became 'figures of motion' that appear in the finished film as horizontal and vertical lines and shapes dancing to the music of the Bagirmi tribe in Africa."

[Chasmodon]

There's got to be an explanation ON TOP of the explanation you gave here for the animation, Gobeirne!

Half the reason I found this so entrancing is that some of those scratched-in squiggles seem to move smoothly across a 3-D picture plane.

Could Mr. Lye animate like that, or was there some trick?

Or does 19 years of work do it?

[gobeirne]

I know! I'm guessing he bent pieces of wire into various shapes and sketched them onto the film as he rotated them in front of him. Very skillful!

[sclapione]

@gobeirne  Doesn't look like wire at all, something way more simple .....

[domochamp99]

so simple yet to the point...this is one of my favorite works of film art

[anguspangusbits]

who did the music

[spoonybird]

it was the Bagirmi Tribe of Africa