Earl of Aberdeen's Collar, After TL (In Memory of Robert Breer)

black and white, sound, 1.5 min
scans not available
In 1829, Thomas Lawrence painted a portrait of George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, which the National Portrait Gallery included it in its 2010 exhibition of Lawrence's portraits and also used ...
Rental format: DVD NTSC

About

In 1829, Thomas Lawrence painted a portrait of George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen, which the National Portrait Gallery included it in its 2010 exhibition of Lawrence's portraits and also used as the poster for the show. Most days I saw the poster in the underground and my eye always went straight to the collar of the Earl's shirt, which shows above his cravat and looks like something Lawrence has simply tossed off in a display of painterly virtuosity. I wondered if it really had been a one-off or the best of several tries. With this in mind, I cut a collar-shaped stencil from a reproduction of the painting and printed around 30 copies, all of which turned out different to a greater or lesser degree; these variations form the basis of this simple animation. I meant it to be silent, but one day the radio was playing in the studio. As I clicked the mouse to run through what I'd decided was the finished film, the radio began broadcasting a performance by Malian singer Oumou Sangare and her band which, spookily, seemed in synch with the rhythms of the film. Next day I tuned in to a repeat of the programme and recorded just the first minute or so of the song which I then adjusted to the length of the film. Midway through making the film I learned of the death of Robert Breer; I completed it with him in mind.

Films

  • Other films by this artist in our catalogue

  • Read More
    Field Film
    Experimental

    Field Film
    Terry Ellis

    color and b/w, sound, 4 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Films About Film
    • Found Footage
    • Structural
  • Read More
    Newman's Shade
    Experimental

    Newman's Shade
    Terry Ellis

    black and white, sound, 4.15 min
    Rental format: DVD PAL
    • Arts / Artists
    • Films About Film
    • Structural
  • Read More
    Le Citron (after Manet)
    Experimental

    Le Citron (after Manet)
    Terry Ellis

    color, silent, 3 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Pattern Recognition
    Experimental

    Pattern Recognition
    Terry Ellis

    color, sound, 3 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Cameraless / Handmade
    • Films About Film
  • Read More
    Shting Shtang Shting
    Experimental

    Shting Shtang Shting
    Terry Ellis

    color, sound, 2 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Yes, No, Maybe (Maybe Not)
    Experimental

    Yes, No, Maybe (Maybe Not)
    Terry Ellis

    sound, 3 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Cameraless / Handmade
  • Read More
    Tilt
    Experimental

    Tilt
    Terry Ellis

    color, sound, 4 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Arts / Artists
    • Films About Film
    • Structural
  • Read More
    Oracle/Coracle
    Experimental

    Oracle/Coracle
    Terry Ellis

    color, sound, 1 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Reflecting Tintoretto
    Experimental

    Reflecting Tintoretto
    Terry Ellis

    color, sound, 36 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Ghost Train
    Experimental

    Ghost Train
    Terry Ellis

    black and white, sound, 4 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
  • Read More
    Tracking Marlowe (3 Strikes and You're Out)
    Experimental
    Narrative

    Tracking Marlowe (3 Strikes and You're Out)
    Terry Ellis

    black and white, sound, 8.09 min
    Rental format: DVD PAL
    • Films About Film
    • Structural
  • Read More
    Sleight of Hand
    Experimental

    Sleight of Hand
    Terry Ellis

    black and white, sound, 2.56 min
    Rental format: DVD PAL
    • Films About Film
    • Structural
  • Read More
    Demonstration
    Experimental

    Demonstration
    Terry Ellis

    color, sound, 4.55 min
    Rental format: DVD PAL
    • Films About Film
    • Structural
  • Read More
    The Cezanne Shuffle
    Experimental

    The Cezanne Shuffle
    Terry Ellis

    color, sound, 1 min
    Rental format: DVD NTSC
    • Arts / Artists
    • Landscape / Architecture
    • Structural