Twilight
Taanila Mika
Two track-mounted video projectors move slowly back and forth, showing appropriated scientific footage of common toads (Bufo bufo) trying to catch rubber "worms" in a 1990s laboratory experiment. As the light gradually grows dimmer, their reactions grow slower until darkness eventually ends their hunt. The original footage was shot during a scientific experiment conducted at the University of Helsinki: "Visual acuity of the common toad at low luminance levels: reactions of retinal neurotransmitters and predatory accuracy.", A.-C. Aho, K. Donner, S. Helenius, T. Reuter & T. Seppä, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, 1997.
Production Year
2010
Duration
00:06:00
Tyyppi
Asiasana
amphibians, animal behaviour, biology, experimental films, eyesight, frogs, installations (works of art), laboratories, laboratory animals, light, media art, science, senses, submission, tests, velocity, video art
Original Title
Hämärä
Finnish Title
Hämärä
English Title
Twilight
Dialogue
No
Sound
No
Cast
Mika Taanila (Author), Lasse Saarinen / Kinotar Oy (Producer), Jari Lehtinen (Technical Director)
Press Photos
Mika Taanila (s. 1965) is a filmmaker and visual artist based in Helsinki, Finland. He works with documentaries, experimental film and visual arts. Human engineering, utopias, failures and man-machines are recurring themes in his films and installations. Taanila’s works have been shown at major international group shows, such as Venice Biennale (Nordic Pavilion 2017), Aichi Triennale (2013), dOCUMENTA (2012), Shanghai Biennale (2006), Berlin Biennale (2004), Manifesta (2002) and Istanbul Biennial (2001). Solo shows include the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Helsinki (2013–14), Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (2013), TENT, Rotterdam (2013) and Galleria Heino, Helsinki (2010). Taanila’s short films have been screened altogether at more than 300 international film festivals and special events. In 2015, Taanila was awarded with the prestigious Ars Fennica Award, the biggest Finnish art award.
25 works