Ben Rivers : Slow Action

About

A new work, Slow Action stems from Ben Rivers' investigation into islands, his interest in Charles Darwin and research into the field of island biogeography. Slow Action focuses on the relationship we have - now and in the future - to islands, and considers the possible Utopias evolving in these isolated places. Ben Rivers travelled to Lanzarote, Japan and Tuvalu to film unique landscapes and climates. Presented here for the first time and in a multi-screen installation, 16mm cinemascope footage of islands combine with animation and a soundtrack featuring a spoken text. This script has been written in collaboration with Mark von Schlegell - a Cologne-based American writer on subjects that range from science fiction to art criticism. The films of Ben Rivers are rich, cinematic portraits that explore wilderness environments and self-contained worlds. Born in Somerset, Ben Rivers lives and works in London. He has exhibited at many international film festivals and galleries, and won numerous awards, most recently Tiger Award for Short Film, International Film Festival Rotterdam 2008 and Best Film, EXiS, Seoul 2008. He has been the recipient of a number of commissions, including a London Artist's Film and Video Award and he was a Jarman Award 2010 nominee. Slow Action, (2010) has been commissioned by Picture This and Animate Projects. Supported by Bristol City Council, Arts Council England, Daiwa Japan Foundation and the British Council.