We are having meetings this afternoon to discuss the project and talk about preliminary ideas. Karin served proper German coffee (with cream) and cake (on a cake stand), everyone's place was laid in the dining room with cup, saucer, spoon, plate, desert fork.. I love it when things are laid out before the people are there, it looks so symmetrical and expectant, but funny without people- perfect rows of little white and silver objects, as if living was that symmetrical.
Hamish I really liked your post. It's funny, I've been thinking about Hopper too- I should investigate and have a look at his work again. I would also like to find out more about Wim Wenders.
I've been thinking about still images and windows. About how lots of elements of life can be woven together in one image, viewed from outside. A lot of the houses here have big open window panes giving onto (now white) lawns. There's something about them that keeps inspiring me, can't quite put my finger on it... I think it could be that framed through such open clean glass, the interiors look like magazine pictures; unreal, staged. But although motionless they are living...
I've also been thinking about portrait photography, and how photographers used to place people as if engaged in daily activities, then ask them to remain motionless for ages to capture the photo. So the end result becomes an image of a staged fixed moment in time.
These ideas seem to resonate really well with your quote:
'People often imagine that, by not going anywhere, my characters are missing out on something, a place to go. In fact, the opposite is true: these characters have the good fortune of not having to go anywhere. I find it liberating.
But less about travel, more about the liberation of representing something, motionless. A moment of clarity...
It also has something to do with editing, taking lots of confusing information and suddenly producing a painfully clear sharp image that somehow expresses an overriding truth that is inherent in all the mess.
Please tell me what you think about this! I feel a bit confused about how this all links up. Also, how do you go from these kinds of thoughts to creating something? I'd appreciate your thoughts...
What is your understanding of 'a moment of clarity'? Have you ever experienced something like that really clearly?
