Meshes pays an homages to the mother of experimental and avant-garde film director and artist Maya Deren, whose work is regarded as the modern starting point for film as a personal tool of expression - influential to artists such as Marcel Duchamp, David Lynch, Joseph Campbell and many more. The pioneer's work is based on three key principles: 'the body', 'manipulation of reality' and 'experimentation'. In Deren’s films, the body is not just a tool to create figurative narrations, but instead is used as a cinematographic tool. Manipulation of reality is of great importance and creates space for 'controlled accidents'. This leads to the construction of new realities and enables us to take advantage of cinema's capability to manipulate time and movement. Both principles mentioned above come to life in the last key element of Deren's cinematic manifesto: 'experimentation'.
Deren distinguishes her art from the commercial film making of Hollywood. She believes in the liberation of film through the invention and implementation of self created tools and methods which emancipate the artist from the financial burdens of production. Meshes directed by the Özbilge sisters is not only implementing the three main principles of Maya Deren's filmmaking, but is also exploring the p ossibilities of experimental animated cinema. Taking the unique musical piece by Gabriel Chwojnik into the focal point of the narrative buildup, 'Meshes' is not only meshing animation with live action but also two unique symbiotic visual universes created by Sine Özbilge and Imge Özbilge.
CREDITS
Directors: Sine Özbilge & Imge Özbilge ©
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LIST OF SELECTIONS
• Ann Arbor Film Festival 2024
• SMAK Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst
• Film Fest Gent 50th Edition 2023