David Crawford: Stop Motion Studies Series 13

Artist(s):

• David Crawford

Title:

Stop Motion Studies Series 13

Exhibition:

• SIGGRAPH 2005: Threading Time
• More artworks from SIGGRAPH 2005:
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Creation Year:

2005

Medium:

web-based art

Category:

• Interactive & Monitor-Based

Artist Statement:

Stop Motion Studies is a series of experimental documentaries that chronicle my interaction with subway passengers in cities around the world. Begun in the fall of 2002, the project currently includes 13 installments from countries including Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and Japan. It is said that 90% of human communication is non-verbal. In these photographs, the body language of the subjects becomes the basic syntax for a series of animations exploring movement, gesture, and algorithmic montage. Many sequences document a person’s reaction to being photographed by a stranger. Some smile, others snarl, still others perform. Some pretend not to notice. Underneath all of this are assumptions and unknowns unique to each situation. The Stop Motion Studies extend my long-standing interest in narrative and, in particular, look at the subway as a stage upon which social dynamics and individual behavior are increasingly mediated by digital technology. As one of the most vibrant and egalitarian networks in our cities, subways bring people from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds into close contact with each other. This process plays a significant role in shaping both the character of a city as well as our individual identities .