Persistence of Vision
Katrina Ennamorato
Persistence of Vision is an artwork that is rooted in the experiences of experimentation and exploration tied to the development of pre-cinematic optical devices. Prior to what we now know as cinema, methods were created to realize a moving image; an illusion through motion. The phenomenon of the moving image generated from a succession of still images is meant to be revealed through experiencing this artwork.
The piece is based on the design and operation of the phenakistoscope; a device used to create and view animation in a manner that systematically reveals a series of contiguous drawings. This work deals with this same functionality, yet fuses the use of light into the presentation thereby extending the concept mechanically from phenakistoscopes used in the past. The artwork is designed to encourage the user to explore each physical perspective, providing various clues as to how the mechanism operates. The user becomes an active participant in the illusion by peering into the piece and physically putting the animation into motion with the manual crank. By walking around the work and viewing its functionality, the user is also a passive observer of the mechanism itself and feels empowered to engage in a discussion of its physical elements.
I created Persistence of Vision to explore the methods of pre-cinematic optical devices. I am interested in the illusion created by moving still images and how the eye interprets motion. This phenomenon provides an opportunity to work with themes of mystery and uncovering a truth. The phenakistoscope is a device that allows the opportunity to house two forms of experience; individual and collective.
I designed the work so that the viewer, as an individual, could experience the light animation created by the mechanism. This artwork also provides an opportunity for collective discussion of the physical construction and design elements revealed. The content of the light animation is not the focal point, but rather how the animation comes into being through motion. The requirement for the user to physically crank the mechanism and bring it into motion is a very important element as it speaks to the idea of exploring, and compels the user to actively participate in the piece. The passive role of the viewer from the external perspective speaks to the work still being a form of entertainment, yet incorporating an understanding of its mechanical dynamics.