Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Blogger, Mahopac, New York.

I recently had the opportunity to Skype with Shambhavi Kaul, a continuation of this blog post.

After joking about the almost too-idyllic introduction of being able to pick up a camera at the age of five and instantly fall in love with the art of cinema, Kaul and I discussed a few things, ranging from what inspires her as an artist, some analysis on her piece, Scene 32, and how the piece fits into FLEFF's theme of "mobilities."

To begin, I asked her a question most artists are quite familiar with: what inspires you? Kaul responded with quite a powerful answer in which she stated, "meaning within cinema is produced in part by presenting both the familiar and the unfamiliar. The unfamiliar is usually what we take for granted, the aspects upon which the familiar becomes possible, the moon, animals, certain backdrops...my interest is to re-circulate these aspects while resisting the frames by which we claim to understand them."

Scene 32 also makes vivid use of both HD video and 16mm film. Upon elaboration, Kaul explained that "Film and video are two totally different mediums. When you put them next to each other in a deliberate way, their modes of description begin to seem imperfect and thus meaning is made unstable.” 

This only reinforces her place in the exhibition as part of the mobilities movement. Cinema travels, and it is one of the original modes of portability in the way it has become enhanced. “The deluge of images that was once thought to exist only in the darkened rooms of theaters is now all around us. In all this, I think of my work as acts of recirculation where a resistance, perhaps a counter argument to some modes of appropriation may be enacted.”

As for plans for the future, Kaul is working on yet another exciting new project shot in Southern California and Northern Mexico. "It's a piece about borders and landscapes, and how they affect each other," she explains. "What pertains to meaning in landscape? This is something I definitely plan on looking out for. Are you?

Blog posting written by Andrew Ronald, Film, Photography & Visual Arts '15, FLEFF Intern, Mahopac, New York

Knowledge. Exploration. Imagination.

These are all elements of the Distributed Microtopias Exhibition here at the 16th annual Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival. And there was one artist in particular who stood out to me: Shambhavi Kaul. Her piece entitled Scene 32 is a part of the exhibition.

And rightfully so. Shot in both high-definition video and 16mm film, the sound of subtle winds accompany various shots of mesmerizing textures, patterns, and remote locations. It is very moving in the sense that it invites the audience to experience ephemeral moments and reflect upon them for a munch longer time. The editing strategy is even structured in such a way to promote an overt, yet fluid transition from one moment to the next. 

Scene 32 truly encompasses the idea of mobilities.

I happened to stumble upon this video as well for some commentary from the artist herself about the piece, but I am also attempting to set up a Skype interview session with Kaul sometime later this week where I will be able to ask her a whole lot more! Stay tuned!

How does Scene 32 make you feel?