To write a review for Villa La Repubblica about Pierre Derks’ present show Mind your step, I visited LhGWR (Lief hertje en de Grote Witte Reus) Gallery. Derks shows a number of video loops which deal with the relation between the individual and the group in public space, like
in 4 Wheelers where car drivers are waiting, maybe for traffic lights. The camera is fixed, the geometric background remains the same, the drivers
are all going the same direction and are all waiting for some time to continue their ways to the future.
It is not easy making pictures of photographs, especially when there are moving elements in them.
This is the background of Exodus against which women with bags on trolleys are hurrying in one direction.
In this loop (Escalator) you see a sequence of afterimages behind every passer-by.
In front of this geometric backstage you
may discover some boys moving like ghosts. While
on a another wall a camera slowly moves along a waiting double-decker train.
In the cellar there are two more works on show.
Mind your step!
One of these works is somewhat obscure, but
26 Miles is clearly about a marathon. Photographed heads of
constantly changing individuals,
slowly moving from left to right,
their monumentality making it almost heroic.
The video’s have no sound,
so it’s good to have a relaxed look at each loop.
See some more footage here in the review at the Villa La Repubblica blog.
(Click on the pictures to enlarge)
Bertus Pieters
Villa Next Door 