Biennale 1971

Description

Collective film for the 1971 Paris Biennale with sequences by Walter Swennen, Guy Mees, Leo Josefstein, Jacques Charlier, Bernd Lohaus, Panamarenko.
“After producing Underground Canalizations (1969) in 16 mm, Charlier plans to move to video format. Not having the appropriate equipment, he will have to fall back on the film format... A keen observer of the art world and its customs, the artist is convinced by the potential of television language. He writes about this collective work: “it will involve producing a 16 mm film, lasting 40 minutes, a film made up of a series of six sequences each produced by different artists. This film will, in some way, reflect current trends of ideas and positions developed in Belgium. Like any attempt at a collective panorama, it will certainly be incomplete, but it is a question of initiating a method. Easy to transport, broadcast either cinematographically or on television, this film will perfectly correspond to the needs of current communication on an international level. Strictly speaking, it will not be pure cinema, but rather a medium of ideas or documents on work in progress. So, no research into special effects, aesthetics or spectacular camera movements. Composed of simple and often fixed shots, it will illustrate a series of behavioral studies requiring image and sound for their communication. The sequence produced by Charlier himself concerns a work colleague, an amateur rock musician nicknamed Rocky Tiger whom Charlier literally brings into the field of contemporary art. It should also be noted on this subject that the Liège artist will use the video medium on various occasions to report on his own activities and musical creations (Art & Music 1975, Terril 1978).” (Source: Jean-Michel Botquin)

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