Roshi Productions

Monday, October 1, 2012

Kaleidoscope (1935) by Len Lye

Len Lye (1901-1980) was known for his work with experimental film and kinetic sculpture. In Kaleidoscope, he painted (and by painted, I also mean scratched, stenciled and cut holes in) directly onto the film strip, creating an animated, mesmerizing sequence. The combination of playful music and the lively shapes and colors is truly hypnotizing. It's hard to look away! Seriously. 


The remediation that Lye is performing is also very interesting: remediating painting through film. I've always enjoyed works that address the context of a medium, and also execute that intention in a lighthearted yet skillful way. Len Lye's legacy is survived by the Len Lye Foundation, which is based in New Zealand, his homeland.