Winter’s Tale
An installation by Nicholas Archer in collaboration with Yulia Podolska and Rachel Cuming, film editor; Rebecca Archer
In August 2010 Nick Archer began a project using hand painted, film animation with a view to creating an installation which would bring to life the work he had previously done on canvas. His paintings had previously dealt with memory and imagination, often attempting to see the world through the eyes of a child in order to try to understand ones place in the world. The paintings often had a sense of fairytale about them, and this was carried into the animated piece.
Since December he has continued to develop the piece and it has become collaboration with two other artists; the sculptor Yulia Podolska and the singer Rachel cumin.
The work takes the form of an animated film projected onto large gauze and sited sculptural pieces around and below the gauze Nick invited Rachel to do a translation of Elgar’s piece of music ‘The Snow’. The result is an empty, haunting piece of music yet with the layering of her voice; elements of ‘Disney’ like choral passages complement the animation perfectly.
Yulias sculpted heads make links to the architecture of the church. Nick has painted onto their gargoyle like features with imagery from the animation. They are both spectators to the film and part of it as they reflect the imagery suggesting memory and imagination.
