In a dance of light and shadow. Eight Kodak Carousel S projectors stand in a 2×4 grid, producing an analog generative animation. Each slide frame, devoid of film, cradles paper cutouts, a tender nod to the roots of cinematography, shadow theater.
Modified Kodak timers equipped with photoresistors create a poetic feedback loop. Akin to the mythological Ouroboros1, symbolizing eternal cycles of creation and destruction. The ambient light generated by the machine interacts with the photoresistors, thus slightly randomizing the timers. Therefore, allowing the artwork to reach an astonishing potential of 65,536 unique abstract images. This finite variability imbues the animation with a sense of spontaneity and unpredictability, operating without a set duration and running on an infinite loop. In a departure from conventional animation techniques, the artwork operates at a reduced frame rate of 12 frames per minute. The inspiration for this is drawn from ambient music, as it emphasizes the beauty of space in sound and demonstrates how this concept can be applied abstractly to animation.
The immersive experience of this sculpture extends beyond the visual. The drone-like sounds produced by the whirling fans within the projectors intertwine with the rhythmic and mechanical clicks of the projectors’ internal cam-driven logic controllers. Together, they form an abstract auditory composition that enhances the overall sensory experience.
Equipment: 8 Kodak Carousel S slide projectors, 8 Modified timers with photo-resistors so the ambient light randomizes the time taken to select each slide on the projectors. Dia-Slides with cardboard cut triangles. Laser-cut modular shelving system.
Project Page | Peter William Holden | Instagram
