1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Two Channel HD digital animation, stereo sound. Duration 10 minutes.
Commissioned for the Anne Landa Award at the Art Gallery of NSW for Justin Paton’s exhibition Unguided Tours.
The Lament continues a loose series of works based on the reworking of existing landscape paintings from the Western canon, starting with The Folly 2009 and The Triumph 2010. The Lament is based on two paintings by Jean Antoine Watteau titled The Embarkation for Cythera 1717 and Pilgrimage to Cythera 1718-19. There is a question art historically about whether the figures in Watteau’s paintings are arriving or departing Cythera, the birth place of Venus. Given that Watteau painted the scene twice it seemed possible that I could allow the travelers to do both, perhaps somewhat deflating this art historical ambiguity. However, I felt this ability to ‘have one’s cake and eat it too’ was fitting for a work who’s references originate in the Rococo period.
You can read Justin Paton’s catalog essay for the show here.
Arlo Mountford, The Lament 2011
Production Still
Arlo Mountford, The Lament 2011
Install AGNSW
Arlo Mountford, The Lament 2011
Install AGNSW
Arlo Mountford, The Lament 2011
Install AGNSW
Arlo Mountford, The Lament 2011
Install AGNSW
Arlo Mountford, The Lament 2011
Production Still
Arlo Mountford, The Lament 2011
Install AGNSW
Arlo Mountford, The Lament 2011
Production Still