Selected gallery from Five Minute of Doubt’s “Indefinite” by A.Salina. “Indefinite” is a script/short film produced by 5mod and released earlier this year.
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A tribute to John Baldessari
No title
550 x 250 mm
Vinyl on polythene
Torino 2020
January 2nd brought the sad news that John Baldessari died at home in California aged 88. I have always considered him a huge influence, not just in terms of his varied subject matter and visual presentation but also of how he thought about art.
For the most part Baldessari’s work always carries a sense of humour which quickly eradicates any sense of pretension. You only have to look at works such as “The Pencil Story” (1972) to see this in action; also, in this instance, the very fact that the idea is written out instantly reveals the concept in a very succinct manner. (see source link below)
Furthermore, it is obvious to note that any other visual parts deemed unnecessary are deliberately avoided. Certainly an interesting decision on the grounds of how something is made; staying honest to the idea is often difficult, especially if time elapses between conception and final work.
The sensibility of Baldessari’s work (especially during the late 60s-early 70’s) goes beyond the conceptual angle into the realms of graphics and advertising. I see the similarities stemming from how publicity picks up on details, quirks and things that break up the rhythm of everyday life in order to garner attention. Is there any huge difference between concept art and advertising in that they are both subliminal? You could argue this case for any artwork but it seems more evident in works such as Baldessari’s.
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On to the tribute work. The question of originality came up whilst I was producing The Coincidences Project some time ago; one offshoot from this (that was never fully explored) was how artworks may appear the same even if produced by two different people in two different places.
This line of inquiry was ripe for a ‘Baldessarian’ take, so introducing text back into the work was vital. The as yet untitled piece introduces the term ‘Coincidentalist’ as a joke on the many ‘ists’ and ‘isms’ that the art world uses to classify thought. In order to strengthen the message, I decided to minimalise the work to such a degree that even the base for the vinyl lettering (MasterType Roslyn) is transparent.
Has, in fact, another artist made this before I did and for the same reasons? It is definitely odd when you do stumble across something which asks the same questions or at the very least looks similar. There has always been a debate about originality in art and how artists try to ‘own’ their own style but what does it matter if you’re oblivious.
RIP John Baldessari 1931-2020
Five Minutes of Doubt release 'Can You Do That?'
And it’s a new entry this week, straight in at Number 5, it’s Five Minutes of Doubt with ‘Can You Do That?’
Gallery features images from the featured episode (click to enlarge)
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Zahra can't sleep. The sandman has clocked off. She's up for work tomorrow, too. But the hours, the minutes and the seconds are drifting by, with every toss of the sweaty sheet, every squeak of the bed. Frustration and panic are setting in. Zahra's thoughts, memories and dreams blur in this evocative and surreal play for voices, both human and parrot.
Written by Holly Turpin
Performed by Abi Standish and Holly Turpin
Produced by Jay Lawrance
Artwork by Sam Vickers
https://www.5mod.net/5mod-video
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An introduction to Five Minutes of Doubt - An Anthology of Plays for Voices
5MOD is something that I have been collaborating on since 2016 with a group of UK based writers and performers. Initially starting out as a podcast, the project has now developed into its third series, of which ‘Can You Do That?’ is the second episode. Jay Lawrance (the founder and main producer for the site) is interested in promoting new writers’ work that can be translated into a five minute play featuring one to three characters.
Once a script has been submitted and given the green light, the writers then get the opportunity to record and produce their work. The developing piece is then sent to me to create a visual interpretation. The results culminate in short films and stand alone recordings that have been collectively released as Series One, Two and Three.
5MOD are always on the lookout for new writers, new scripts and new ideas. This post also functions as an open call for Series Four and Five. No fees, no hassle. Go to 5mod.net and contact us on any of the linked social accounts, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.