looping video installation
The video is assembled from documentary video footage shot on a beach at low tide at New Plymouth New Zealand on July 15 2006. That evenings video footage is part of a series of digital video and photography documenting my work as an artist in residence at WITT(Western Institute of Technology Taranaki) participating in SCANZ(Solar Circuit Aotearoa New Zealand), an international media arts residency program.
I have been interested in re-introducing 'play' into my art practice. The vehicle for this has been the building and flying of kites. At first this seems like a simple exercise but actually as each fact leads to another in my research I find myself getting deeper into the rich and vast history, spiritual and cultural significance, science(physics of flight), the mysteries, poetic and metaphoric aspects of kites. These discoveries as I work through the processes are 'sparking' my creative juices, challenging my skills and providing new experiences to draw upon in my artwork.
The kite in the video is a modified Eddy Kite which was designed by an American William Eddy with references to traditional diamond kite designs from the UK and a design from Malaysia.
The video is cut to allow the viewer to make their own interpretations on what is happening on the screen. The absence of traditional signifiers like title, narrative, voiceover, script, location, time, and fictional character(s) as the video presents itself over time allows for open interpretations. Although it is being presented as a single channel video with beginning to end editing, it can be looked at as loop where the ending could be interpreted as the beginning. It is also cut with my creative eye and my ideas about myself, my relationship with the world and my interests amongst other things, around secret wishes to fly. (Don't worry I won't be strapping wings on and jumping off an bridges or buildings.)
" A treasured kite lost to the winds, brings much joy when found again."
an English translation of a Maori saying from Te Manu Tukutuku ~ the Maori Kite by Bob Maysmor
other kites