The Sea House

In this collaged animation of historic interiors and live footage of the sea, the viewer is confronted with a partial view of an obviously imagined event. Using black and white, this film has been roughly put together to make its construction and the clash of imagery obvious. The moving slit on the black screen is modelled on the beam of a lighthouse and uses the same rotation speed. The images fit, but not quite.

By juxtaposing the antique furniture and textiles of a precious heritage interior with advancing waves, the artist creates a situation that directly triggers the viewer. Both shocking and mesmerising, this film illustrates the deep unease that is at the root of our response to water events such as flooding. When there is water where there shouldn’t be any, when wet clashes with dry in such a strident manner, we are gripped by an uncanny fascination. We want to watch the spectacle, but also protect or flee.