David Noonan: A Dark and Quiet Place

About

Noonan's first film in over a decade is an experiential reflection on theatre, performance, time and the tension between figuration and abstraction. The film is a durational work comprising of still images that gradually dissolve and shift, creating new connections and juxtapositions. A Dark and Quite Place montages imagery from Noonan's extensive archive to create an immersive experience supported by a minimalist electronic soundtrack.

The archival imagery in the film is assembled from disparate sources from the 20th century to the present that are interleaved with oscillating sequences of sculptural neons and geometric visuals. A de-linear sense of time has been a central concern of Noonan's practice to date. Mirroring methods within Science Fiction, Noonan recycles the past to create an alternate view in the present. In the film's imagery, performers and set pieces have been removed through photo-editing to expose architectural elements and to create new readings of these theatrical spaces. This editing questions the veracity of archival imagery while reflecting the artificial nature and alternate realities present in stage and set design. 

David Noonan was born in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, in 1969. He lives and works in London. A publication entitled A Dark and Quite Place has been published ahead of this exhibition. David Noonan’s work has recently been the subject of solo exhibitions at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, USA (2015); Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis, MO, USA (2011); Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, VIC, Australia (2009); Chisenhale Gallery, London (2008); and Palais De Tokyo, Paris, France (2007).