Test Pattern / Sonata XII

Test Pattern / Sonata XII experiment.

I wanted to approach film and animation as I would approach painting a canvas. When I paint I enjoy building up many layers, most of which become completely obscured, however they do add a richness and depth to a work which I've always found very pleasing.

In this film I have tried to adopt the same ideas, as I thought that the adding or removing layers could work well with the continuous rise and fall of Mr Cages excellent prepared piano.
I would lay down quite a hefty colourful image and then slowly layer up with black shapes/images, multiplying where I wished, or in this case where the music becomes still, so as to aim for a richness which eventually becomes absorbed by black and stillness.

The film has ended up being a little overly complicated, which is odd as I've only used a handful of still images. But then John Cages sonata is more complicated than when you first hear it.

It's been quite interesting; like painting, you could keep adding layers indefinitely. This film is a work in progress where I've chosen to stop and let it rest, it's still quite tatty but as a personal experiment; a success.

Thanks for watching.