Hierophanies

'Hierophanies' consists of a large, transparent LED screen in portrait orientation, mounted on a simple stand in the centre of the room, accompanied by four freestanding speakers. A looping 3D animation plays on the screen depicting an artefact from the ancient ruins of Palmyra that was destroyed by the so-called Islamic State militants in 2015. Departing from a jpeg published online by the IS as part of their iconoclastic propaganda. The artefact is digitally reconstructed through the interpretive framework of a film industry visual effects specialist. The video is accompanied by a four channel sound installation that moves between a range of genres, forms and atmospheres - from site specific field recordings within the church to composites of archive sampling and atmospheric foley, creating both a highly cinematic and reflective experience. It also lends an animistic quality to the digital artefact, in a sense bringing it to life. The aim is to allow us to think about the multiple registers of meaning digital artefacts can operate within (from cinema to the museum) and to question the ontological status of these ‘things’ that are set free from the burden of words such as “history” and “originality”.

Hierophanies
2017
HD 3D animation, 4 channel audio
Transparent LED Screen 1450mm x 968 mm
4 Freestanding speakers