Films and Videos by Riccardo Iacono (In Person)

  • Friday, January 31, 8 pm
  • @ Cinecycle, 129 Spadina Ave.

Part of Winter 2003


Opening our winter season, UK artist Riccardo Iacono brings together a comprehensive programme of his films and videos produced over the last nine years, including the world premieres of ten new works. Iacono’s art ranges from abstract hand-painted film and digital animation to performance-to-camera and process-based video installation. Central to this exploration are themes of denial and difference; the formation of language, identity and culture through physiological and technological process and interface. By turns giddy and serene, these glimmering short films and videos are musical and poetic meditations on light, colour and memory. This is a rare opportunity to see this collection of works, and to discuss film/video imagemaking process with Riccardo Iacono afterwards.

Programme I:

Root, 16mm, colour, silent 5:00 min., 2003

Series A, 16mm, colour, sound, 2:00 min., 1994

Open, 16mm, colour, sound, 2:00 min., 2003

Pour, 16mm, colour, sound, 2:00 min., 2003

Deluxe, 16mm, colour, sound, 2:00 min., 2003

From Memory, 16mm, colour, silent, 16:00 min., 2003

Hard Light, 16mm, b/w, silent, 2:00 min., 2002

Letters, 35mm, colour, silent, 3:00 min., 2000

Fuzzy Lover, 16mm, b/w, silent, 1:00 min., 2003

intermission

SKZCP, DVD, silent, 2:00 min. loop, 2000

Programme II:

Myeyeye, dv, silent 3:00 min., 2000

Double, 16mm twin screen, sound, 2:00 min., 2003

Radiator, dv, stereo, 4:00 min., 1994/6

Cold Tape, dv, stereo, 1:00 min., 2000

Island, dv, stereo, 2:00 min., 2001

Walk, dv, stereo, 4:00 min., 2001

Play, dv, stereo, 4:00 min., 2001

Universe Energies Sustain Us, dv, stereo, 13:00 min. 2002

The Psychology of Abstraction

“There is something strangely elusive about the films and videos of Riccardo Iacono and it’s not just because he works predominantly in abstract animation. Unlike other abstract animators like Stan Brakhage, whose esoteric films are firmly grounded in abstract expressionism, Riccardo’s work operates on a psychological level where mesmerizing and vaguely representational images both haunt and comfort the viewer. It is a strange and powerful form of visual thinking and it is a pleasure to watch.

There is a lyrical quality unique to Riccardo’s brand of abstraction. In a way, these peculiar abstract animations present us with the subjective eye of the filmmaker. This subjectivity appears obvious in his more representational works like myeyeye or walk where the reflection of the recorded image or the softness of the focus duplicate the visual experience of the filmmaker.

Yet, in his abstract camera-less works, the lyrical quality emerges in the psychology of associative logic and it is startling in its inventiveness. From Memory contains imagery that glistens like the frosting on top of a cupcake. Moments later, a mysterious organic entity appears to scurry across the surface of the film (perhaps in search of some something to eat!). And then there is what appears to be ice -we are after all in the middle of a frigid winter– that glistens like…ice. At the moment that one makes an association with the imagery, a transformation occurs and a new set of subconscious material is revealed. Shapes, images and colours appear as if they are released from the unconscious as artifacts of light.

One thing is for certain: Riccardo’s films and videos represents a new and dazzling contribution to abstract art where the richness of meaning rises above the materiality of the medium.” (Roberto Ariganello)

Films and Videos by Riccardo IaconoFuzzy Lover