Kinetic Pieces and Scopic Avant-gardes

This research project focuses on the early moving image collection held by the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council.

The collection contains over 300 moving image objects including zoetrope and praxinoscope strips, phenakistoscope disks, Kinora reels, translucent slides, and magic lantern plates, among others. In addition to precursors of film, the collection also includes early film elements in different formats and colour systems, as well as other objects with seminal aesthetic qualities, such as hand-colored semi-transparent stereo Tissue cards and early anaglyphs, and 19th century kaleidoscopes and chromatropes. 

Phenaquistoscope image disc, c. XIX

Based on the analysis of and work with the objects in the collection, the project encompasses activities linked to their study, preservation and presentation. These activities are divided into three main interconnected areas of action:

1. Inspection and documentation of the items in the collection.
2. Digitisation of the materials and/or creation of audio-visual works based on them.
3. Conceptualisation and design of new formulas for the contemporary exhibition of the materials.

Digital reproductions of the materials will be integrated into the Gordailua database in order to make them accessible to the public through the online catalogue. Essays, exhibition programs and/or possible new audio-visual works, or other outputs generated by the project will be exhibited through the channels, platforms and spaces deemed most appropriate.

In 2022-2023 a body of digital images is being generated for collection access purposes. These months a variety of pre-cinematographic pieces and kinetic objects have been digitized and animated. Also, different film elements have been digitized, among them, a fragment of a silent film print (35mm, nitrate, tinted, circa 1915) was digitally reproduced and is currently being researched. In parallel, exhibition proposals that embrace collection pieces, as well as digital images, are shaping up.

Lead investigator:

Maddi Lopez de Arkaute

Students 2023-2024:
Adolfo Vincenzo Hernández Velásquez, Ana Karina de Fátima Barandiarán Urday, Elvira Arbós, Manuela Gutiérrez Arrieta, Maya Sfakianaki, Saioa Miguel

Students 2022-2023:
Celeste Rojas Múgica, Inés Vázquez, Lucía Malandro, Lucía Dellacha, Paolo Tizón, Paula García Castro, Petru-Ioan Pandrea

Associated institutions:

Gordailua, Basque Film Archive, Photomuseum

Timeframe:

2022 - ongoing