Artist Blog

Every week an artist whose single image was published by Der Greif is given a platform in which to blog about contemporary photography.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5EharkjNBc[/embed] I was talking about dormancy during the workshop in Barcelona. I was working with another participants images taken in airports. I managed to filter these down to just 3 Thomas Demand-esque images of conveyor belts and security scanning machines. I suggested a form of presentation may be 3 large projections of these still images perhaps with ambient sounds from the scenes. I saw these machines as quite human things. Lying dormant, anticipating the next set of arrivals to the baggage hall when they would be activated again.  The projection of the still image would imply movement, a duration and adds an interesting tension. In relation to this Jason bought up 'Football as never before' a documentary made in the 70's by Hellmuth Costard about George Best. I have never seen this film but apparently similar to Zidane: A 21 Century Portrait  it used 8 16mm cameras to follow Best for the duration of a game. These play makers, like the baggage conveyor belts are always waiting, watching and waiting for the moment. They are dormant rather than idle and these opportunities provide great insight into this role. --- I was discussing the above with some friends who work in dance. They pointed me in the direction of a theatrical documentary by Jerome Bel about Veronique Doisneau. I am still yet to watch the full documentation of it but apparently the piece was a one off live piece made during the last performance at Palais Garnier as Doisneau neared retirement. As with Best and Zidane it is a celebration of career, of a certain role and of those subtle, subdued dormant moments amidst the chaos of performance. I need to watch the full 37 minute piece to fully understand but the way it was relayed to me is that Doisneau was never a principal dancer but rather upheld an important supporting role. The piece celebrates this role by giving her a solo. Her solo is to perform her part rather than the lead and therefore we observe her in many moments on the fringes of the stage waiting to be activated. [embed width="1000" height="563"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L10LlVPE-kg[/embed]