comments on 2 recent videos by m swiezynski

screening at the san francisco cinematheque of 2 videos by matthew swiezynski on february 25, 2007 at the yerba buena center for the arts, san francisco,
-rue de vaugirard, 1909, 1998
-l'amourphysique, 2005

l'amourphysique, 2005

here are the comments made by curator charles boone:

matthew swiezynski's work is an ongoing, metaphoric look at some of the micro aspects of our world: of viewing, of time, and of color to name but three. through techniques he has explored for a number of years, he creates (or, maybe, discovers) abstract images that are based in reality, joining them, finally, with sonic material meant to heighten their sense of abstraction. to this, he says, he adds a bit of melancholia. darker states of meaning are clearly implied in this work and it is through the pacing and duration of its sequences, among other techniques, that viewers might gain a clear sense of this darkness. one may even perceive a vein of religious sub-stratum in what he creates. the limitation of his palette to dark, or highly contrasting colors also heightens the palpable sense of melancholy in these works. these works appear to be monochromatic, but not quite. pacing and duration are important considerations for swiezynski. perhaps his works approach boredom. but in cage's formulation, if you are bored with something, engage with it again. if you are still bored with it, engage with it further. and so on. swiezynski's work may require a degree of patience, but i always come away from it with a deep sense of having experienced something about time and vision i had never witnessed before.