Philipp Lachenmann's video installation entitled 'Shu' was really interesting. When entering the dark room styled similar to a cinema with rows of seats you were able to sit for as long as you liked to watch the piece. To begin with I wasn't sure what was going on in the video and it appeared to be of shooting stars in the sky. The longer I watched it it became obvious they were aeroplanes flying over what I thought at the time was a housing area in the desert. Not being sure of the details didn't matter when viewing the piece, it was so relaxing and peaceful to watch. It struck me how some so simple could work so effectively and it really left an impression on me.
I did however find that the curtain used was not helpful at all and very distracting when people were entering and leaving the space letting light in.
When I read about the piece and looked into it, I found that it was filmed over looking a prison and that Lachenmann was influenced by different styles of films from the Disney logo to Science Fiction films. This was very clear in the piece.
It was nice to think that there was a juxtaposition of the peace and calm of the filming of the planes against the scenery of a prison which ordinarily would strike in our minds as something negative and ugly.
I found myself enjoying video pieces more so when looking around galleries, and giving me ideas for my own video work.
'Shu', Philipp Lachenmann, 2007
Image taken from:
http://thecarriageheldbutjustourselves.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/philipp-lachenmann-shu.jpg
