Iceland still suffers from aftershocks since it came into existence from volcanic activity. Nature there is restless and rough, fascinating and enigmatic. The island clearly is in the throes of its own dynamics. Forceful sounds of ice floes passing by, oppressing silences and panoramic vistas. Iceland is both inhospitable and soft. At least, that is the first impression one gets after watching this cd-rom. It is a personal account by Hooykaas and Stansfield who clearly were impressed with the natural beauty they found in Iceland. The story they convey by means of QuickTime movies and some texts is undoubtedly of a mystical nature, which is to be expected where a country like Iceland is concerned, where there is ample space for contemplation and meditation. A voice (in the chapter Text) sums it up as follows: "Look at something else. Then the thing that was before you is suddenly gone. Nothing lasts, not even the thoughts inside you. Do not waste your time looking for them. Once a thing is gone, begin anew". 'Person to Person' is about the moment itself. About putting the past and the future in perspective and appreciating the present, enjoying the moment to the fullest. This can be sensed in the many ordinary shots of walking on pebbles and of the bubbling mud pools. The artists themselves also feature prominently (in the chapter People), portrayed while working, while making their discoveries. In this way Hooykaas and Stansfield seem to suggest that their moment, when they recorded it, is not the same moment as that of the viewer. The usr of this cd-rom is invited to make his own snapshots which can later be seen in a photo album (in the chapter Stills). On the one hand, this makes your own experience of the artists' report a little detached, but their presence provides a new experience again which makes you realize you are now, at this very moment, constructing your own story.
– Miklós Beyer
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Programmers: Robert de Geus, Andeas Hack, 3D animation: Timo Breumelhof, Production: Montevideo/TBA
Madelon Hooykaas ° 1942, Maartensdijk (Netherlands)
Elsa Stansfield ° 1945, Glasgow (UK)
Live and work in Amsterdam (Netherlands)
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