'Follis Nyctanthous' by Savinder Bual 2010
Bual also talked about the 'black space' she uses in her piece, for example in 'Flicker', 'Train' and 'Wing'. This black space is a result of placing a black frame, which films are made up of, between still image frames when edited her pieces. The result is a flickering image, switching between the still image and black space. The effect that this has on Bual's work is that it forces you to use your imagination and imagine what could be in those 'empty' spaces. Forcing the viewer to use their imagination is also why Savinder uses a black and white effect in her videos; an issue raised by a member of the audience in the question time. Our work is filled with films that use colour, opening up gaps and giving all the information to the viewer, however black and white closes those gaps and allows questions to be asked.
Having moved from the UK to China and back, Savinder felt like her location and how settled she felt at the time, was fully reflected in her work. Her video of paper birds (purchased from a street seller in China) being flown into a white wall in her studios represents the 'block' she felt when she first started working over there; trying to get inspiration and creating pieces but hitting a (metaphorical) brick wall. The birds in this video had been bought, taken apart and remade in order to gain a higher understanding of the object. This technique is used a lot by Bual, she often starts with objects for inspiration for her work, with her video pieces being focused usually on mundane or handmade objects. With this as a starting point, she manipulates them to become very interesting and to have greater meaning. For example, she used the Chinese paper birds in another piece, with one being attached to a spinning ceiling fan; representing the want in people to be free and 'fly away' but our minds are constantly going, not allowing us to do this, not allowing us to live in the present.
'Flight' by Savinder Bual
When researching Savinder outside the lecture, I found on the 'About' section of her website that she had written about her work "By discovering low-fi ways to add movement to single images and commonplace objects/materials my intent is to ignite an element of wonder at the illusion of cinema, giving the everyday enough of a twist to allow the imagination to run free." This interested me because it describes well the final video pieces that she has produced. Her videos always focus on simple, sometimes handmade objects or mundane scenes that have been manipulated. Despite this simplicity, her video pieces are made with such thought and care that they become automatically thought provoking and beautiful.
'Flying Work 1' by Savidner Bual 2010
Objects are almost always the focus of Savinder's pieces, with her main interest being how they are made and re-making them. An interesting thought is the juxtaposition of using simple materials, like paper, and the immateriality of film making. Paper is such a basic material that is so easy to get your hands on, and can be used in so many different ways, whereas film making is a digital process where the outcome is not a solid material that can be touched or held, only watched and edited on a computer with the right technology. This is linked to how paper disappearing from the modern world and being replaced with technology like the Kindle, mobile phones and hard drives. For example, we don't use paper to make notes or to-do lists, it's easier to do that on a phone or tablet that we will have on our person most of the time.
Savinder Bual delivered an extremely interesting lecture very well. She was engaging and sure about her ideas, with the subject of her work fitting in very well to the theme of 'time'.
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