FIGURES Charles Cohen

production by Charles Cohen US, 2014 time: 1'

Synopsis: The tenuous relationship between subject and object, perceiver and perceived, expectation and satisfaction drive the investigation in “Figures.” This 1 minute video features visual dramatizations of how the things we need are supposed to work paired with voices enumerating a false progress. The audio is appropriated from a different source and the images don’t correspond to a specific number, yet there is a parallel crescendo from abstract bits and particles to recognizable parts of and finally the whole human body. However, confronted with a lack of meaningful correspondence, we expect/want the sexy animation to be a payload even though by definition it can’t be: the nature of a cure for existence can’t be burdened with how or how much.

Biography: Currently represented by Bonni Benrubi Gallery in New York, Genovese/Sullivan in Boston, Imago Galleries in Palm Desert, and LUMAS in Berlin, Charles Cohen participated in the Core Fellowship program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston after earning his MFA in photography at the Rhode Island School of Design. In addition to traditional photography Cohen uses video, digital imaging and sculpture to explore various aspects of a central theme—the conflation of opposites. Cohen finds or applies abstraction to mundane subjects provoking the viewer to complete the meaning of a piece. As in his"Yank", “Figures” and “The Way It Was” videos, Cohen confronts us with an unpacked and relayered perceptual experience that renders us engaged and reflexive. Cohen’s work has been exhibited in New York, Paris, Boston, Houston, San Francisco, Portland, Lisbon, Berlin and Miami. It can be seen in two popular books: "Digital Art" by Christiane Paul published by Thames & Hudson, and "CURVE: The Female Nude Now" by Dailey Meghan et al, published by Rizzoli, as well as two recently released books, “100 New York Photographers” by Cynthia Dantzic, and “Art/Porn: A History of Seeing and Touching” by Kelly Dennis. Cohen's work is in the collections of The Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Portland Art Museum in Oregon among other institutions.

PRESS + Benjamin Ducroz

NoiseVideo Festival 2015 03.04.2015 03.05.2015

production by Benjamin Ducroz Australia, 2009 time: 1' 27''

Synopsis: 'press +' is a network of shapes that influence one another in a cause and effect relationship. Each entity has its own colour, form and movement, which work in unison with the soundtrack. Different forces such as gravity, wind and turbulence affect the shapes at selected moments within the sound. This creates precipitation by altering each form, or by altering the position of the camera. The shapes each have a beginning and an end, the death of one shape influences the birth of the next, the result is a string of mini big-bangs. The piece investigates cycles of change and the possibilities found in the metamorphosis between shapes. 'press +' uses a combination of analogue and digital techniques. The shapes were improvised, utilising a matrix of points and lines. Twelve shapes were selected and linked seamlessly in 3d software. They were then animated in synchronisation with the soundtrack. Eventually each frame was printed with an inkjet printer on recycled paper. Key moments were then further animated using ink and watercolour. The sequence was then recomposed, resulting in a spectacle of colour, form, movement and sound.

Biography: Inspired by the forms, patterns, and movement found in nature and the built environment, Benjamin works with found objects and visual abstraction to create dynamic moving image artworks. Made with a blend of stop motion animation and computer graphics, his fast-paced works have a vibrant choreographic style. Alongside his art practice Benjamin is an accomplished motion designer, and has worked for the likes of 1stavenuemachine, superfad and mtv. Benjamin's work has been exhibited in galleries and festivals nationally and internationally including the London International Animation Festival, Shanghai World Expo, Asian Art Biennale (Taiwan), Australian Centre for the Moving ImageF5 festival (USA), Onedotzero (U.K), Rencontres Internationales (Paris/Berlin/Madrid)

'NOISEVIDEOFestival' will present a short selection of videos that engage the dialogue between sound production and video/cinematic design. The goal is to explore this interaction field in the visual art. For this first edition we will present a wide gamma of possible approaches as a chance to start a debate and make it available to a wide audience. For this we have invited a group of authors to participate in this online festival that will take place from 3rd April - 3rd of May 2015.