Toshio Matsumoto: A Retrospective
A retrospective selection of short films by the classic of the Japanese avant-gard - Toshio Matsumoto, director, video artist and film theorist.
Toshio Matsumoto
This is a documentary film on the theme of tradition domination and labor. Matsumoto calls this work the avant-garde documentary. It was produced on the basis of the independent screening movement of "Kyoto documentary film viewing society". Nishijin area of Kyoto is a traditional textile production district. Weavers keeps strict labor. Nishijin lives inside the tradition. Children are watch the rule of invisible tradition. The old people pray to Jizo (Kshitigarbha). Capitalists regards weavers as "tools". Weavers argue in the meeting and worry. Today, weavers is weaving a kimono.
Nishijin
Japan | 1961 | 25 min
This is a documentary film on the theme of tradition domination and labor. Matsumoto calls this work the avant-garde documentary. It was produced on the basis of the independent screening movement of "Kyoto documentary film viewing society". Nishijin area of Kyoto is a traditional textile production district. Weavers keeps strict labor. Nishijin lives inside the tradition. Children are watch the rule of invisible tradition. The old people pray to Jizo (Kshitigarbha). Capitalists regards weavers as "tools". Weavers argue in the meeting and worry. Today, weavers is weaving a kimono.
This is a documentary film on the theme of tradition domination and labor. Matsumoto calls this work the avant-garde documentary. It was produced on the basis of the independent screening movement of "Kyoto documentary film viewing society". Nishijin area of Kyoto is a traditional textile production district. Weavers keeps strict labor. Nishijin lives inside the tradition. Children are watch the rule of invisible tradition. The old people pray to Jizo (Kshitigarbha). Capitalists regards weavers as "tools". Weavers argue in the meeting and worry. Today, weavers is weaving a kimono.
The Song of Stone
Japan | 1963 | 24 min
This film is a documentary made for television programs using photographs as materials. Music is a "Music Concrete" made from the sound of stones. Anjo village in Shikoku is the origin of a good quality stone. Masons live with stones. A stone is shaved and polished. Masons say «stones are living things». On the ship, the stones will be shipped.
This film is a documentary made for television programs using photographs as materials. Music is a "Music Concrete" made from the sound of stones. Anjo village in Shikoku is the origin of a good quality stone. Masons live with stones. A stone is shaved and polished. Masons say «stones are living things». On the ship, the stones will be shipped.
For the Damaged Right Eye
Japan | 1968 | 12 min
This expanded cinema was performed in the «Sogetsu Art Center» in 1968. Three 16 mm projectors are projected onto one screen, overlapping each other. During this period, Matsumoto will transition from the Avant-garde documentary to the experimental film. The 1960s in Japan was at the turning point of society. It was chaotic. Hippie who dances at the disco, Collision between police and protesters, The Kwon Hyi-ro Incident, Homosexual culture. Documents of Japan in 1968 conflict on the screen.
This expanded cinema was performed in the «Sogetsu Art Center» in 1968. Three 16 mm projectors are projected onto one screen, overlapping each other. During this period, Matsumoto will transition from the Avant-garde documentary to the experimental film. The 1960s in Japan was at the turning point of society. It was chaotic. Hippie who dances at the disco, Collision between police and protesters, The Kwon Hyi-ro Incident, Homosexual culture. Documents of Japan in 1968 conflict on the screen.
Phantom
Japan | 1975 | 10 min
Matsumoto shifts to the experimental movie and pursues the non-logical factor in consciousness. This film expresses strange colors by using infrared film. Ocean, Yoga performance, A woman with red hair, Eyeball floating in the city, A mysterious garden... Delusion comes up and it disappears.
Matsumoto shifts to the experimental movie and pursues the non-logical factor in consciousness. This film expresses strange colors by using infrared film. Ocean, Yoga performance, A woman with red hair, Eyeball floating in the city, A mysterious garden... Delusion comes up and it disappears.
Atman
Япония | 1975 | 12 мин
Shooting a lot of the appearance of a Prajñā while changing zoom and exposure parameters. Then Matsumoto reshooted the picture one frame at a time. This film uses infrared film. The viewpoint turns violently around. The abnormal exercise confuses the audience's consciousness and makes a hallucinative world appear.
Shooting a lot of the appearance of a Prajñā while changing zoom and exposure parameters. Then Matsumoto reshooted the picture one frame at a time. This film uses infrared film. The viewpoint turns violently around. The abnormal exercise confuses the audience's consciousness and makes a hallucinative world appear.
Engram
Japan | 1987 | 12 min
Around this time, Matsumoto focused on the image-relationships and falsehoods. Matsumoto himself appeared in this film. It closely resembles the "story", but a trap is set here. The photo deviates from the actual space. Matsumoto repeats the discussion. The number of students decreases one by one. While the incident repeats, it creates countless differences.
Around this time, Matsumoto focused on the image-relationships and falsehoods. Matsumoto himself appeared in this film. It closely resembles the "story", but a trap is set here. The photo deviates from the actual space. Matsumoto repeats the discussion. The number of students decreases one by one. While the incident repeats, it creates countless differences.
PROGRAMME 2017