Project Title

The Carousel Waltz

"The Carousel Waltz", 2014-2015, video installation, variable dimension.

Info

  • Category :
  • Date : 2015-03-01

In the Parisian scenery of limestone walls and misty sky, lavishly decorated carousels are easily notable amidst monuments such as Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel), Champ-de-Mars Garden (Jardin du Champ-de-Mars), The Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Sacré-Cœur), or in secluded corners in Luxembourg Garden (Jardin du Luxembourg) and Monceau Park (Parc Monceau). The carousel was a prominent form of gala amusement since the early 20th century. For over a century it continues to fascinates children in various guises of white horses, gray donkeys, flying elephants, unicorns, pirate ships or space shuttles. When the children mount on them they long for suspension of time and the spinning ever-lasting. As music swirls and the surroundings gradually becomes a blur, portions of reality will elude and slip into the realm of fantasy – if only the harness is held a bit more tight. Inspired by such childish longing and fantasy The Carousel Waltz series reenact a multitude of revolving game machines in Paris. The carousels spin, and yet there is no one sitting on any of them. There is no exciting voyage calls and no end to the inert spinning either – for a journey without destination has not a beginning nor an end. Like heavenly bodies rotating in different speeds, the carousel respond to a time intrinsic of their own. The 3 ½-minute-journey thus becomes eternity.

  • /