This is my latest project called Déjà Vu which refer to movies where the photographers are present at a moment when they are taking photo. We were never shown those « photos » in the movies… that was left to us, spectators, to virtually freeze that moment… to imagine the photo. So I used it…my imagination… to recreate those photos…looking for the perfect place which was the real challenge sometimes, the perfect moment to obtain the same light if the photo was « taken » outdoors or setting the one itaken indoor, and finally employing all my acting abilities to achieve the best possible expressions as I am the one who appears on the photos too.
The original concept that started this project with was the critic to the manipulative nature of the media that we are exposed to…but with time I found it much more interesting as a research…looking for all the movies where the photographers appear taking photos… I have quite a long list and I know I will never be able to recreate all of them …but at least what I did so far is a small tribute to that cause.
It is beautiful how still photography is used and depicted in the movies …as a tool to freeze a flow of those 24/sec frames in our mind…to slow down the rythm…to emphasize single moments, the beauty of emotions… to reveal what images in movement can not do.
The images of this project are presented in a diptych form : at one side is the original movie scene showing the actors playing at being photographers ; at the other side is the photograph they supposedly did (staged and taken by me).
Monia Marcetta
References :
Beetlejuice, BURTON, Tim, 1988, 92 min
Beyond the Clouds, ANTONIONI Michelangelo & WENDERS Wim, 1995, 112 min
Blow Up, ANTONIONI, Michalangelo, 1966, 111 min
Closer, NICHOLS, Mike, 2004, 104 min
Mediterraneo, SALVATORES, Gabriele, 1991, 96 min
Smoke, WENG, Wayne, 1995, 112 min
The Eyes of Laura Mars, KERSHNER, Irvin, 1978, 104 min
Three colors : Red, KIESLOWSKI, Krzysztof, 1994, 99 min
Vicky Cristina Barcelona, ALLEN, Woody, 2008, 96 mn
Déjà Vu
September 5 – October 14, 2012
M.Žilinskas Art Gallery of the National M.K.Čiurlionis Art Museum
Nepriklausomybės sq. 12,
Kaunas
Lithuania
