Artists capture the moment
Released: Wednesday 19th September 2012 at 16:12
Artists Mishka Henner and David Oates will have a new film showcased at an international arts festival this weekend.
The Manchester-based pair will have their artwork celebrated at the Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival, after being commissioned and funded through the North East Photography Network (NEPN), part of the University of Sunderland.
The artists, who work under the name ‘BlackLab’, will showcase their work, ‘Photographers’ at the festival, taking place September 19-23, focusing on the portrayal of photographers in films from over the years.
The film collage explores the photographer as depicted in the movies, remixing and re-sequencing hundreds of scenes featuring photographers and inviting the audience to question the role of the photographer in contemporary society.
The work also explores the relationship between the still image and the moving image, which ties in with the festival’s theme of Pictures in Motion.
Amanda Ritson, project co-ordinator at the University of Sunderland, said: “NEPN is delighted to be collaborating with Berwick Film and Media Arts festival on this commission. We were overwhelmed by the quality and volume of submissions but we are delighted with the work that BlackLab have created. It looks at the impact of technology on the nature and role of the photographer, an extremely topical issue for many in the sector.”
Festival director Melanie Iredale said: “Our commissions have often been the highlights of the festival, and we’re thrilled to have collaborated with Mishka and David; two artists with such a strong track record. Their moving image work which is being shown really explores this year’s theme.”
The commission has been supported by Berwick Film and Media Arts festival, through Arts Council England, and by NEPN through the University of Sunderland.