Laws of Attraction Review
Anna Franceschini is a well-known Italian artist and filmmaker, her films and videos have been selected by several film festivals and she has won many awards for her work. ‘Laws of Attraction’ is her first solo exhibition in the UK and it is being shown at Spike Island in Bristol. The exhibition displays a collection of work from the past five years, and includes a selection of short, captivating films and digital pieces. |
The exhibition was full of outstanding and thought provoking pieces. Each piece is unique, although they fit well together. The display is held in a series of large, dark, open rooms, which enhances your view of the digital pieces. Each piece highlights a different point and makes you see things in new ways; it would be hard to pick a definite favourite piece from this collection, as they are all so different. Anna’s inspiration behind these films is a world “deserted by humans, a world in which movement is the result of mechanical action”.
A piece that captures many is titled: ‘The player may not change his position’ from 2009, it is one of the longest videos in the exhibition at 17 minutes. Shown in a large separate room to the rest of the pieces, the film plays on your emotions by changing a place that you associate with fun, freedom and escapism to one of fear and uncertainty. It highlights all of the terrors of a fairground and collates them into one video, showing an empty scene full of bright hypnotizing colour whirring across the screen, the film alarmingly ends with flashing lights and an image of a man’s legs hanging. The feet aren’t touching the floor, yet are swaying slightly.
Without reading any information on the pieces before viewing the exhibition you come out feeling inspired and excited. Each piece has a distinct meaning to you, making the exhibition personal. After reading information on the work some of the initial thoughts and feelings developed throughout the show were changed, as the actual meanings of the pieces weren’t as first perceived. The exhibition is a worthwhile visit for a very engaging and refreshing experience.
For more information on Anna Franceschini or the exhibition visit: http://www.spikeisland.org.uk or http://www.annafranceschini.net
A piece that captures many is titled: ‘The player may not change his position’ from 2009, it is one of the longest videos in the exhibition at 17 minutes. Shown in a large separate room to the rest of the pieces, the film plays on your emotions by changing a place that you associate with fun, freedom and escapism to one of fear and uncertainty. It highlights all of the terrors of a fairground and collates them into one video, showing an empty scene full of bright hypnotizing colour whirring across the screen, the film alarmingly ends with flashing lights and an image of a man’s legs hanging. The feet aren’t touching the floor, yet are swaying slightly.
Without reading any information on the pieces before viewing the exhibition you come out feeling inspired and excited. Each piece has a distinct meaning to you, making the exhibition personal. After reading information on the work some of the initial thoughts and feelings developed throughout the show were changed, as the actual meanings of the pieces weren’t as first perceived. The exhibition is a worthwhile visit for a very engaging and refreshing experience.
For more information on Anna Franceschini or the exhibition visit: http://www.spikeisland.org.uk or http://www.annafranceschini.net