»Positionen« 
Light Box
Light Box
© Klomfar & Sengmüller; Positionen, 1997
Series “Bags”
Video installation
Video projector, video player, videotape, three coated paper bags (epoxy resin), three acrylic resin consoles
Keywords
Information
Technology
Hardware
Video projector, video player, videotapeMaterial
Video projector, video player, videotape, three coated paper bags (epoxy resin), three acrylic resin consoles
Descriptions & Essays
Ruth Schnell 25-09-2021
"Irritating and interesting at the same time is the fact that these seemingly continuous movements are only partially visible on the paper bags – the legs enter or leave the picture, but after or in-between they are no longer visible; on the other hand, the scene looks like one is stepping onto a fictional catwalk, the legs moving towards each other, dodging, adopting, almost reluctantly, a position in a cramped posture, imaginarily transgressing the outer frame of the technically sophisticated video installation.
Ruth Schnell is also interested in a confrontation between the practice of the body and the associated projections, the anatomical nature of women's legs and their relation to the constructed sexualization.
The artist uses the simple bags as three-dimensional screens, in a similar way to the digital advertising spaces that are often found at train or subway stations – both virtual architectures in every respect – promising the satisfaction of all needs and guaranteeing an unfulfilled desire."
-Ruth Schnell, quoting Priska Graf in: 'Maßstäbe weiblicher Beweggründe. Zum Werk 'Positionen' von Ruth Schnell'
Ruth Schnell: Positionen, 25-09-2021, in: Archive of Digital Art "Irritating and interesting at the same time is the fact that these seemingly continuous movements are only partially visible on the paper bags – the legs enter or leave the picture, but after or in-between they are no longer visible; on the other hand, the scene looks like one is stepping onto a fictional catwalk, the legs moving towards each other, dodging, adopting, almost reluctantly, a position in a cramped posture, imaginarily transgressing the outer frame of the technically sophisticated video installation.
Ruth Schnell is also interested in a confrontation between the practice of the body and the associated projections, the anatomical nature of women's legs and their relation to the constructed sexualization.
The artist uses the simple bags as three-dimensional screens, in a similar way to the digital advertising spaces that are often found at train or subway stations – both virtual architectures in every respect – promising the satisfaction of all needs and guaranteeing an unfulfilled desire."
-Ruth Schnell, quoting Priska Graf in: 'Maßstäbe weiblicher Beweggründe. Zum Werk 'Positionen' von Ruth Schnell'
Ruth Schnell 25-09-2021
Video installation
Series 'Bags'
Three paper bags are placed side by side at eye level on the wall. They become the screens for a video that shows womens' legs – barefoot and filmed up to the knee – moving up and down, pausing, stepping out of the picture and into the picture. Each bag is assigned to a pair of legs. The everyday object becomes the image carrier; the projection breaks and is distorted in the edges and crinkles.
Ruth Schnell: Positionen, 25-09-2021, in: Archive of Digital Art Video installation
Series 'Bags'
Three paper bags are placed side by side at eye level on the wall. They become the screens for a video that shows womens' legs – barefoot and filmed up to the knee – moving up and down, pausing, stepping out of the picture and into the picture. Each bag is assigned to a pair of legs. The everyday object becomes the image carrier; the projection breaks and is distorted in the edges and crinkles.
Literature
Koweindl, Daniela. »Ruth Schnell.« In La Casa, il Corpo, il Cuore - Konstruktion der Identitäten, edited by Lóránd Hegyi. Vienna: Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation (MUMOK), 1999.
Aigner, Carl. »Videoinstallationen.« EIKON 21/22 (1997).
Zillner, Christian. »Die Tragtasche als Informationstransformator.« Published in: Ruth Schnell, Lisi Hämmerle Gallery, Catalog, Bregenz.
Exhibitions & Events
1999
Exhibition :