Research centre
Art and Design Research Centre

Date
2012

Patrick and Simon: Chatsworth House; Derbyshire. One minute short filmed on 16mm.

The Organ Grinder presents a static shot of Patrick playing his barrel organ accompanied by his monkey Simon. As we watch the spectacle we are reminded of early cinema and analogue devices. The turning of the machine winds the musical score through the mechanics of the organ. Just as we associate the process with a notion of film passing through a projector or camera the actual 16mm film runs out and becomes recognisable as film end.

Organ grinders are romantic, associated with an itinerant lifestyle pointing towards freedom and exoticness; the realities were much different to this. This fond scripting we project onto their image reminds me of our love of analogue technique.

The Organ Grinder is touring as part of the One Minutes Volume 6 curated by Kerry Baldry.

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