Filmic Motion and Public Art

So we live in time of virtual motion. After many years of special effects in action adventures shot after Star Wars, we have "direct" experience with fast, twisting motion through space. Billions of humans know things about motion that have never been experienced. Any water cooler conversation can discuss the feeling of a high-speed chase on the ground or through the air.

Video by Rhett Nye

Motion has had a huge influence on architects and many have attempted to capture this spirit since the beginning of the 20th century. Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid are the best known in the last few years. But unfortunately, we only move slightly faster than a snail through the zippiest of spaces. Architecture is motionless motion.

Public Art has achieved some action through the apparent motion of LED lights or the actual motion of water over surface, lightweight objects pushed by the air or a few motorized elements. But the action is not with the body like the film. Only the amusement park crudely mimics the motion of film.

What about from the other direction? How does the architecture, public space or public art inspire the film or video maker? What kind of works is more conducive to movement of the camera? And therefore the movement of the body? (And are these linked?)

For most films, the specific architecture or art is stylistic or psychological. Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" is one of best uses of architecture and space as another character in the film. Wim Wender's Wings of Desire is one of the finest portrayals of modern space as the angels move through Hans Sharoun's Berlin Library.

For public art, I don't know many. This week at the local movie theater, I watched "The Namesake" in which Diller and Scofidio's Kennedy Airport monitors play a significant role. Very unusual.

To discover how public art might look on film, I searched YOUTUBE and found a selection. Only in a minority of videos do the artworks spark motion in the cameraperson. Most are really just stills shot in video. If a person can walk through the sculpture, the use of motion is more prevalent like Christo's Gates. Cloud Gate in Chicago generated less video fun that I would have guessed. The Tate Modern has sponsored a number of works with video response.

Have a look at the new Aesthetic Grounds YouTube site. Click on the PLAYLISTS to see the Best I could find on particular works.

Tate Modern