whirr whirr whirr whirr etc

The previous week has been a bit of strange one as i haven't done a great deal of reading. Instead i have been out and about. The highlight of these adventures was Francis Aly's retrospective at Tate modern A Story of Deception. Without going into too much detail this really was a fascinating show and an excellent way to get an idea of Aly's work. It was an exhibition i had been meaning to see for some time and after the insightful comments from Sam (see post before last) i made sure i got up to London for it.

projector

Alys had been one of main people i had in mind when i wrote the research proposal for my dissertation. His work relies heavily on the documentary process with video and still imagery being an integral part of his practice. While there are many many insights to be had from his work i what really struck me was the projectors Alys used.

Possibly an odd thing to concentrate on. But the type of projector used seemed quite important. The one to the left was quite an old machine and made a delightfully monotonous whirring noise. What emantated from this machine was a slow moving shot endlessly travelling down a heat soaked road. The noise of the machine is a perfect accompaniement to the forward motion of the film. Also the relentless noise represents a similar to loop to the one the film is on.

Two other features of Alys' work are an interest in music and exposure of the creative process. In the former case the connection to this machine is obvious. The latter, while more obscure, can still be seen. When you look at the projector you can see the film and watch it move around the various parts. Alys could have picked a more contained projector but instead allows a clear look into what is going on.

Finally it is worth mentioning where it is. It is also the first thing you see when you enter the exhibition and is right in the centre of the room. The projector then is not simply a functional tool but part of the actual installation itself.

In June 2010 i will be in position where i have to put on a degree show. So questions of how to display work are gnawing away at the back of my mind constantly. It is an issue that needs careful thought as when work is displayed in a sensitive and considerate manner the experience for the viewer is greatly enhanced.

As a footnote much of Alys work can be downloaded for free at: http://francisalys.com/

well worth it