Fionn Hibbert
This project is an original audio-visual multimedia artefact called 'Life in Blocks.'
The aim of the project is to investigate and determine if one can effectively encapsulate a period or block of time in one's life using mixed media, specifically in the style of expanded cinema.
The key objectives of this project was to study expanded cinema and avant-garde film artists to create an emotive multi-media piece that looks to encapsulate moments of the artists life.
The visual references of this project are Mark Leckey, especially his films 'Fiorucci Made me Hardcore' and 'Dream English Kid 1964-1999 AD' which are autobiographical memoirs of his life and periods of time, specifically the 90s rave scene; these were made through found footage.
Hollis Frampton is another main inspiration, his films 'Nostalgia' and 'Zorns Lemma' look at memories, nostalgia and patterns in life.
Bruce Nauman was the third visual artist that inspired parts of the film through his use of intrusion and discomfort in films like 'Poke in Eye/Ear/Nose'.
As well as this, the project looks at the ideas of Gene Youngblood in his book 'Expanded Cinema' to get a better understanding of the art form.
The musical references in the project range from jazz to hip-hop and ambient inspirations.
William Basinki's album 'The Disintegration Loops' is an ambient piece that inspired a large majority of the music in the project examining the deterioration of sound and how that can applied to the project.
Through these references and study of expanded cinema, film and music were created and composed to encapsulate the artists life.
The film was created and screened in an unconventional location; this is in keeping with some of the ideologies of expanded cinema.
Due to the film being a creative art piece as opposed to trying to analyse data, there was no survey on what the audience thought of the film as it felt demeaning to the overall process and also due to the fact that art itself is a subjective material and there is no inherent right or wrong answer to what the viewer thinks or feels from the film.
The thesis below examines if an individual can encapsulate a block of time in their life through the use of mixed media.
The thesis looks in depth at artists such as Mark Leckey, Hollis Frampton, Bruce Nauman, Lis Rhodes and several other visual and expanded cinema artists. It also investigates musicians like Albert Ayler, William Basinski, Vegyn, Jeshi and Antonio Sanchez; their music and audio influenced the making of this short film and the themes within their art can be applied to the different blocks displayed within the artist's life in the film 'Life in Blocks'.
My name is Fionn Hibbert and I am a creative music production student and audio visual artist.
I produce a variety of different genres of music including but not limited to jazz, hip-hop, electronic music and and alternative indie. I have been drumming for the past eleven years and mainly play jazz and funk.
In third year of college I composed and produced the score for the short animation film 'My Sister's Nature' directed by Bella Quinn which I later won a Royal Television Society award for.
I also composed the soundtrack for the film 'A City Upon a Hill' directed by Kevin Morthorst.
