Michelle
Stewart
MICHELLE STEWART
ARTIST/ ANIMATOR
MULTI MEDIA INSTALLATION: BIG MAN
2018
This is a collaborative multi media installation that was part of the main exhibition event at ISEA2018 (The International Symposium for Electronic Art). Michelle created the top animated screen. Artist, Yane Bakreski created the video screens and artist Peter Stewart composed the sound. The installation was conceived of by Yane who was inspired by the final scene of Michelle's experimental animated film (Big Man 2017), which ends with an archival audio of former president of South Africa laughing at allegations of corruption. The sound in the earlier animation, as with the installation, was composed by Peter Stewart and to a large extent contributes to the meaning and potency of both works. The installation echoes the theme of corruption of power, both in the South African and international context. The installation is also a reflection of Michelangelo’s “Last Judgement”. It has the support of the underlying broader Biblical theme that is juxtaposed with the nuances of the South African context. The installation consists of 20 screens attached on a wall (the wall of judgement) depicting these “captured souls”. Each of the screen has very short video loop, different close-ups of suffering bodies. The visual reference is the western wall of the Sistine Chapel, the composition “Last Judgement”. On top of the installation is the biggest screen showing the “big man” laughing.
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