Les Poupées Russes (Split Screen/Documentation)

Les Poupées Russes is a two channel video installation that uses a mise en abyme structure. On opposing sides of the gallery space are video projections of a film set. One side is the image of the subject from the point of view of the camera; the other projection is the equipment used on film set. Side one is the image of the subject from the point of view of the camera; the other is an image of the camera and camera person from the point of view of the subject.
The subject is the artist sitting in a chair, waiting for "Action" to be called. Save the film equipment, there is no detail of the space. All subjects and objects inhabit a white void; there is no horizon, no foreground or background. The camera person, also played by the artist, traverses from one wall to the other (from one projection to the other) to adjust equipment. The footsteps are audible through surround sound. The simulated environment creates a virtual/psychological space within the gallery suggesting this 'void' inhabits the space of the viewer. Although we do not literally see the camera person entering this middle space, we understand that two realms have been bridged through mediated suggestion. There is a continuous zoom throughout the entirety of the loop: the zoom distances itself from the subject and the mirror and into the monitor's feed. In one continuous shot, the loop is structured in a Mobius Strip, traversing from one projection to the other, timed to reflect each other as the loop overlaps.
Action is never called.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• mise
• en
• abyme
• jenn
• norton
• les
• poupées
• russes
• installation
• documentation

[plocqa17]

I enjoyed this more than watching a Mathew Barney piece...could be smarter, thank you!!

[JeffCanada]

that's trippy. its awesome

[guerillaforcefilms]

brilliant, Jenn.