Jennifer West: Film Is Dead

Los Angeles-based artist Jennifer West creates experimental films and installations.

At a time when analog film has become largely obsolete, she works with old film stock and uses everyday household materials—including hot water, bleach, vanilla, coffee, vinegar, nail polish and more—to paint and erode the film emulsion and create colored splotches, patterns, and chance effects. When digitized and re-screened her deconstructive films have the most surprising and beautiful visual effects.

For her installation at the Seattle Art Museum, West will create a large-scale installation made of manipulated 70mm filmstrips, hung from the ceiling and spanning nearly the full length of the gallery. These recycled filmstrips and remnants from the analogue age will also be digitized by the artist and the resulting film will be shown in the gallery, exploring the relationship between the physical and digital qualities of the medium.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website