Experimental Cinema

Simon Payne is an experimental video maker whose work has shown in numerous venues including Tate Modern; the Serpentine Gallery; The Hermitage, St Petersburg and the London, Edinburgh and Rotterdam Film Festivals. He has written widely on experimental film and video, and recently co-edited the book Kurt Kren: Structural Film with Nicky Hamlyn and A.L. Rees. He is Reader in Film and Media Studies at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.

• AcknowledgementsIntroduction: Three SsAfter Duchamp: William RabanBy candlelight: Elemental cinema and flickerConstructivism into film: Systems art and Guy SherwinDark from light: Nick Collins’ filmsFilm music: Jayne Parker and John CageGames and challenges in artists’ films and videosIn search of a sensual philosophy: Malcolm Le GriceKnitting patterns in Jennifer Nightingale’s filmsLengths and lines: Artists’ filmstripsMatches: Responses to Annabel Nicolson’s expanded cinemaNot far at all: Peter GidalObject no.1: Montage in Samantha Rebello’s filmsPrimary structures: David Hall’s sculpture of the screenQuartet and quadrants: Nicky HamlynSignals: Teaching, learning and positive feedbackTree Again: Chris WelsbyVide0void: David Larcher and Anthony McCallWords: John Smith and Lis RhodesZeros and ones: Abstract digital cinemaConclusion: History and criticism

Simon’s book is that rare thing, a work of serious scholarship that is also a joy to read. Reviewing the work of many of the UK’s major film and video artists, he draws on his deep knowledge of the arts to make new connections and question many long-held assumptions. A superb achievement.