Alchemy of the Word

1975, English. Directed by Peter von Ziegesar.

Alchemy of the Word is a hand-made film in which I applied Zip-A-Tone patterns directly to 16mm clear film stock, including upon the optical edge, so that the dancing shapes onscreen created their own soundtrack when projected. The film also features my friend, the artist David Saunders, playing the 19th-century French Symbolist poet, Arthur Rimbaud, as he reads from one of the poet’s most famous works, Alchemy of the Word. The film, as well as the poem, are about synesthesia: the artist’s transformation of one sense into another, turning light into sound, sound into emotion, and words into images.

Runtime

0h 12m

Post-credits

None listed

Language

English

Rated

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