Abstract Iterations II

Abstract Iterations II and Abstract Iterations III are digital animation films for cinema screening, which build on Schmid’s previous site-specific work, Abstract Iterations. Taking its original abstract imagery as a starting point, it is completely reworked, digitally reprocessed, animated and re-edited, to achieve painterly animation sequences designed for a one-screen 16:9 HD cinematic digital film format. The films aim to expand upon ‘cinematic painting’ and abstraction, explored by historical and contemporary artists (Menzies, 2015) and in ‘visual music’ films (Keefer, 2012).

Contextualised research in painting and film in the abstract genre, presented by Schmid at two conferences, pays tribute to historical artists (Fischinger, Breer, Brakhage). To investigate their legacy in the contemporary context, Schmid conducted first-hand research into contemporary abstract animations, interviewing their artist-filmmakers (Detheux, Ohashi, Kopmar, Stellmach/Oschmann), who articulated the meaning of abstraction within their own practice. Schmid’s practice-based film output takes an interdisciplinary approach, exploring the relations between abstract animation, art and visual music. Two alternative original soundscapes were synchronised to the abstract film: in Abstract Iterations II, random sounds evoke auditory-visual associations via Coulam’s original location recording, whereas conversely, Abstract Iterations III evokes a more abstracted narrative drama through Fletcher’s original electronic music composition. Further, Schmid developed the abstract imagery into limited edition giclee prints which were displayed at a fine art exhibition.

The output and contextualised research provide wider insight into the genre, to expand the discourse on interdisciplinary approaches of animation in relation to cinema, art, painting, poetry, performance and visual music. The films’ significance and continued relevance is recognised through peer-reviewed selection at fourteen competitive international film festivals, including a retrospective in 2018 and selection in an international exhibition (MUSAC, 2020). Furthermore, both film versions are represented in the ‘PyR TV Online Platform & Media Library’, the most comprehensive film collection and online catalogue of ‘abstract art in motion’.