Found: new restorations and discoveries from Center for Visual Music

I went along to the Tate Modern last night to see the exhibition 'Found: new restorations and discoveries from Centre for Visual Music', which included experimental animation from Jordan Belson, Oskar Fischinger, Jud Yalkut, Charles Dockum, John Cage & Richard Lippold.

Unfortunately I arrived late and missed some of the films, but when I arrived the showing was of  The Sun Film (John Cage & Richard Lippold, USA, 1956, 16mm, colour, silent).

The Sun Film - John Cage & Richard Lippold (1956)

This was a silent movie and showed how the 'sun' was made and filmed against a black background. Richard Lippold was the creator of the Sun using over 2  miles of gold wire. If i were to have seen the film without knowing how this was made, I dont think I would  have thought of this. It was very intricately made and at the seminar the curator explained that the actual sculpture has now degenerated and is no longer on show. She did explain that a project is underway for the Sun to be restored to its original form and put back on show.

Lippold working on a sculpture, circa 1950

 I particularly enjoyed the animation by Charles Dockum called Mobicolour Performance. 

Mobilcolor Performance 1969 (excerpt) by Charles Dockum from CVM on Vimeo.

 This was a silent film and even though in todays time this could be created quite easy with computers and various software, it got me to thinking how this was actually made in the sixties. The use of the lights and creating almost an illusion with the shapes as they are increasing in size yet they seem to stay the same.

'Charles Dockum was born in Corsicana, Texas, in 1904. He obtained a degree in electrical engineering at Texas A & M in 1926. Immediately thereafter began his intense interest in art, particularly in composition employing the functional use of form and color as conceived in the contemporary movement in painting and architecture.
In 1935 he began the first experiments toward the development of Light Projection (MOBILCOLOR) as a fine art, combining a knowledge of music and the graphic arts with his previous training in electrical and illumination engineering. Several years later Color Concerts were given at Cal Tech and the Pasadena Playhouse.' (http://www.centerforvisualmusic.org/Dockum/)http://www.centerforvisualmusic.org/Dockum/

Animation & Film, past and present

While researching experimental animations and works that inspire me, i came across an animation called SUNSET on Vimeo

I was immediately drawn to the colours of the animation being red, white, and black.

I have been inspired by this tonal effect in film and animation since I saw Sin City (2005). That was a real inspiration for me, the style of graphic novel meets blockbuster movie.

I have been trying to plan my own piece of work with the same colour theme to it, using both 2D, live action and After Effects.

New Horizons

20 September 2013

Fragments of Time

The New Horizon module is based around what inspires me and where my inspirations will take me in the future.

When I began the FdA course my trail of thought was aimed towards 3D animation and character design. Over the course of two years I found that my direction had changed quite dramatically. I have taken a very keen interest in film and special effects.

For this module I will be discussing various animators and filmmakers that have inspired me, and various techniques that have inspired me, and my work.

I will be posting various texts from past animators ans film makers and especially the texts that are relevant to my specialist area.