Rodney Graham at Lisson Gallery Oct 19 - Nov 23

There are still a couple of weeks to get to this show at the Lisson Gallery. You should be familiar with some of this artist's work from his recent Whitechapel retrospective (2003) and this show will certainly not dissappoint. The work I refer to in particular is titled 'Torqued Chandelier release' 2004, 5 min, 35 mm film loop. The press release informs us that the work was inspired by Isaac Newton's bucket experiment (follow the link for a detailed description of Newton's Bucket) and that the film is shot and projected at 48 fps with custom made equipment.
What you will find is clearly a specialised projector of some considerable size, occupying the centre of the rear ground floor space, from which is projected a moving image of startling clarity. The screen is suspended from the gallery ceiling in portrait format, showing the image of a revolving crystal chandelier, isolated from any suggestion of a background. As with any film loop you must watch the entire cycle, as many times as you can, otherwise the work will probably pass you by.
The reductivist will see a glass chandelier which having been wound on its suspending rope (or whatever) is left to unwind and rewind itself until it comes to rest. Stay with the work and you will see the myriad glass surfaces of the chandelier rotate and slide over each other until the direction of motion becomes unclear, producing a sense of disorientation and uncertainty. At the point where the chandelier spins at its fastest velocity the speed of the projector becomes suddenly appropriate and the work becomes yet more complex and rewarding. If you love film...