Evaluation

The overall unit was designed to teach us what video installation is, how it works, how to use an exhibition space and how to compose a video installation. The unit also tasked us with the pre-production and post production of an exhibition that includes both digital and found footage. Before actually composing the footage into an exhibition a number of objectives had to be accomplished. Firstly we would have to research what a video installation is along with a number of video installation artists. It was also asked that we research at least one piece made by an artist and compare it to another artists work. At the end of the report it was mandatory to provide a statement that showcased our understanding of a video installation and how to portray it within a certain environment.

Pre-production involved creating a storyboard using a template provided by the college. It was to provide a basic outlook of what the overall exhibition was supposed to look like. After completing this storyboard and composing a shot list we had to find some footage in the SteenBeck room. We were taught how to use 16mm film and the SteenBeck machines in order to cut and edit footage. After finding the footage we required we had to film it in order to edit the footage digitally. Afterwards it was just a matter of composing the footage in the order I wanted.

Personally I found the task extremely boring, however it did provide me with a wider view on how certain effects can be achieved and how they effect the perspective of the viewer. I was not to interested in the research half of the unit. Just researching artists who work in this particular sector and the work they do provided me with no interested. How the audience would react to these videos and why was what made me continue to research for this unit. Along with the different non-narrative styles of film, such as non-linear and abstract I learned different ways of how these films can be portrayed.

Issues with the actual exhibition taking place reside mainly with the equipment. There were no technical issues such as equipment not working. The problems lay more in the realm of not having enough equipment. The exhibition requires five projectors and five sets of speakers. In the end only one projector and one pair of speakers were available. This meant that the full effect of the exhibition could not be achieved. Also in order to play all the video clips they were compiled into one video and played individually one after the other, which degraded the original intentions dramatically.

Though the artists and their work did not interest me in many ways they did provide me with some new found knowledge that I did not have before this unit. It has allowed my creativity and technique to improve greatly since the start of this unit.