All Ladies Video Review.

Works discussed:

"Ian (Be Still)"
Joey Fauerso
Video Animation(4:00 mins)
2008

"Isabel"
Michele Monseau
Digital Video (0:50 secs)
2008



Entering the exhibit, the first work that you notice,due to its immense size, is "Ian (Be Still) 2008" by Joey Fauersol. A video animation projected upon what could be considered the back wall of the exhibit space. The projection lies in its own space, framed by the floor, ceiling, and two walls. When approaching the work, its almost inevitable to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Not only due to its size, but also the visuals provided. In comparison to Michele's "Isabel", "Ian (Be Still)" can be seen as a tsunami of color and line information. The animation holds the main subject, whom you have to assum is "Ian", centered and fixed. "Ian" is a shaggy haired, pubecent looking, male which is depicted shirtless and from the chest up. Behind him, a copious amount of imagery is flashed, one after the other. This imagery is made up of Foliage, wreaths, flowers, and doves mirrorized and reflected ontop each other which creates shapes and imagery similar to what you would see in a kaleidoscope. The imagery is light, and, although overwhelming because of the manner presented, can be seen as even hevenly Yet, at closer proximity (once the end of the encompassing walls are behind you) you are left closer to "Ian" and focus less on the imagery behind him, to the point where it seems superfluous. This contrast creates a sensation which almost allows you to feel what his "in thought" facial expression emanates. You then think this feeling could be a constant characteristic of this unkempt teen, which can be said is a defining characteristic of most teens.

Michele Monseau's work is similar to Fauerso's, in which she compares one individual (per projection) against an overpowering backdrop. In her work, she uses a 2 channel projection, side by side, to depict the same scene and action but with different subjects, a female and then a male. In both, the subjects are laying down, faced away from the viewer (as to not to see their whole face), on the corner of a towering gray stone building. Since the building is gray, along with the sidewalk they lay on, there is a apparent lack of color, outside of the subjects. The male is resting on his hand, while the lower half of his body is turned away from the viewer but still manages to keep one knee up. The female is resting on her side, one leg on top of the other, only showing us her back. The only true action, aside from the "sleeping" subjects, is portrayed by the camera work. The camera focuses on the subjects and then pans up towards the top of the building, allowing a break from the cold, grey concrete and subjects, and the sky is shown.

Although both of the work's aesthetics differ completely from one another, their sense of "self" is the same. Both artists depict their subjects fixed against a backdrop which, in a sense, imprisons the subject. Yet, both, at one point or another, leave you with a sense of hope, and anticipation. This can be seen by color and subject matter of Fauerso's backgroup in "Ian (Be Still)", and in the liberation from the hard stone background in Monseau's "Isable". Both can be seen as a definitive sense of "self", both as women, and people who want to progress and break through into a less staggering way of life.