Medrar Projects Medrar Studio THE MESH – VIDEO ART & EXPERIMENTAL FILMS (Production WORKSHOP)

THE MESH – VIDEO ART & EXPERIMENTAL FILMS (Production WORKSHOP)

Medrar Studio

Workshops

Medrar for Contemporary Art

16 March 2016 - 16 April 2016

Taking place over the course of more than one month the workshop in which participants met for sixteen sessions nine Egyptian artists explored video art production, aesthetics and sound. 

The instructors, Egyptian filmmaker Mark Lotfy and Swiss artist Peter Aerschmann, started the workshop with a series of lectures about the history of video art and its development, conception of works; and some filming techniques. Every participant had a chance to re-think their preconceived notions of image and sound to discover their own approach to audiovisual as a language. In this part of the workshop – the more theoretical – the participants were encouraged to question the now blurred  line between cinema and visual art. Narrative, storytelling and messages were explored. There were also practical assignments such as producing one minute videos and discussing them.

Each participant pitched their project to the team and had a chance to gain conceptual feedback. This was also a chance for the participants to discuss production limits and opportunities. Finally the participants went into the production and implementation of their films, and now are finalising their sound and mixing with only one film in editing.

Participants

  • Abdelrahman Dnewar
  • Ahmed Sabry
  • Shady Kodsi
  • Sabah Naim
  • Muhammad Taymour
  • Irene Bartolome
  • Mai Al Shazly
  • Ahmed Shawky
  • Ahmed Mohsen
  • Kirollos Yousef

About the Trainers:

Films Produced

This workshop is organized with the support of the Swiss Arts Council Prohelvetia.

Peter Aerschmann

Video artist living and working in Bern. Co-founder and managed of Progr Cultural institute in Bern. He studied arts and computer sciences in University of Basel. His Video works and installations have been exhibited in numerous international festivals and museums.

Mark Lotfy

Filmmaker, producer and researcher from Alexandria. Founder and director of Figleaf Studio in Alexandria, which has produced numerous fiction, short films, documentaries and video art. Mark has directed 5 films and helped produce 14 films. He seeks to support the independent cinema and the art movement in Alexandria.

The Impact of Meat

Ahmed Sabry

The Impact of Meat

4’07”

2016

He tries to open the door but it’s stuck. Suddenly an explosion from inside pushes it open and out comes an annoying fat boy. He smiles to the camera with a baseball bat in his hand and swings it strongly on a wooden column next to him only to be hit back by it into his head. He runs to the sea carrying a surfboard and suddenly trips and falls to the ground showing hit behind. A selection of stories taken out of context, each one uses the rotoscope technique to implement a new context.

Administration of Public relations is pleased to invite you

Ahmed Shawky Hassan

Administration of Public relations is pleased to invite you

5’55”

2016

The film’s events revolve around reproducing imagery from the Egyptian governmental archive. The images are created by Egyptians working at these governmental institutions; their main concern is to document the officials at these events. This image is what pushed me to observe the behavior of three cultural officials while they gave a talk at a governmental institution from the moment they enter the building till they get on stage.

In Between

Mai Al Shazly

In Between

2’34”

2016 – ongoing

“In Between“ is a series of videos started in 2016 that represent the idea of subjectivity and self-conflict in a chosen place, through playful interaction with the surroundings, portraying the psychological interactions between performer and possibilities.

Chapter 1: Syzyf’s opening

Muhammad Taymour

Chapter 1: Syzyf’s opening

4’07”

2016

Guilt is a natural feeling existing in the low, middle, and high class communities of people. The younger you are, the more you still retain pure basic instinct; the guilt feeling is diminishing in parallel with the age meter and kids have very pure guilt than older people.
The video is a demonstration of a guilt feeling which is being built inside a poor kid from the low class community in Upper Egypt. He is helping a few men to bury a dead body inside a grave and then everything is turning up to be a crime.
How does he feel towards guilt? And how does he react?