Moving people is a fascinating short art movie by Vladimir Shcherban, the director of Belarus Free Theatre. This is his first film work where he presents actors with whom he has collaborated in the underground theatre. Human emotion, individual identities, movement, light and fragments of the human body are the elements which tell the tales of the 6 short stories in this film.
Vladimir Shcherban about the film: “The idea to make this video came to my mind when i found the illuminant in my temporary loft appartment in New York City. My friend finally bought a camera for saved money and helped me with my film. The film production was carried out in the room of one of New York City hotels.”
In the contemporary art scene, German artist Claudia Rogge is an exceptional person. She continually photographs crowds of practically identical people , all dressed in the same way and holding the same pose to create a unique mass identity. Arranged either in repetition, tessellation or in choreographed groups, her figures represent the unique little tiles that form an intricate mosaic. Man himself turns into a pattern, into an ornament. At the same time there is the question of whether the conceptual classification is justified. Are they really patterns or ornaments? Might they not simply be masses or forms? It seems, however, that we can cope best with the conceptual term of pattern.
Although Claudia Rogge shows us patterns, her works no longer shows an indistinct and homogeneous element but one made up of minuscule differences that need to be sought out carefully in each single photograph. The disposition of the persons depicted reminds spectators of their own movements and postures, which are no mere coincidences but basic dimensions of the sense of social direction. Postures and emotions correspond with each other. Analysing the body language is helpful for a better understanding of other people. Claudio Rogge plays with perception, which she carries on. She shows her wish to bring things closer together in terms of space and time. “If you pause motionless”, says photographer Robert Doisneau, “people will look at you.”
This is one of the elements which makes Claudia Rogge´s pictures so attractive. A motionlessness that repeats itself and thus appears to be movement within stillness.They can be approached in the same way one would approach a still life. With Vermeer, says philosopher Paul Virilio, the living world corresponds with a still life. With Claudia Rogge it seems the same yet with a slight difference: she has raised the living world of mere illusion to the status of an art icon. Our age, in which the mass media are left to themselves, has accomplished the step from the necessary to the superfluous. Claudia Rogge turns our gaze back to the aesthetic glossy print with its mass of people returning to us the individual within us.
We came across French photographer Gabriel Michel’s portfolio and very much liked his Milky Way series. The dialogue between the fluid (Milk) and the fragmented parts of the submerged human body does remind one of the play between the fabric of a garment and the wearer of this garment. A fascinating photo series.
