line describing a cone

A bundle of photos of the 2005 Aussie Tour of Line Describing a Cone have been posted up here. We’ll add more if you send em to us!
Email bilateral@bigfoot.com

Anne-Marie Archer - Line Describing a Cone (written 01 June 2005) at State of the Arts

The idea of walking into a smoke filled room to be part of an event is quickly becoming a thing of the past. However, Anthony McCall’s Line Describing a Cone demands such an environment to truly appreciate the impact of his innovative work from the ’70s.

Entering the room was an unusual experience as the crowd disappeared beyond the fog and a single beam of projected light captured not only the attention, but also the fingertips and hands of the audience as they played with the medium.

The half hour evolution of the cone’s arc lit the faces of many Western Australian art identities and enthusiasts who had taken the opportunity to witness and engage in this three-dimensional, unique participant-driven experience.

Artist Lucas Ihlein, instrumental in the event and its delivery, described his passion for ‘Expanded Cinema’, designed to extend and expose the cinematic apparatuses to create a live experience for the audience.

Throughout the film, the crowd roamed around, within and into the projected physical space. Aside from fellow attendees, there were no images or theatrics to distract you from the raw and abstract understanding of cinematic projection. Yet there was still a climax in the film as the two streams of light drew closer to finally complete the cone.

The projector becomes the source, yet it was the audience’s management and manipulation of the projected light that was most fascinating and the Bakery Artrage Complex provided the ideal space to explore this light sculpture phenomenon from every vantage point.

Take advantage of the rare opportunity to see this work, as it evokes elements of your personality that respond to an external stimulus that is both inviting and memorable.

- Anne-Marie Archer

Stuart Harrison made a wonderful audio document from the Melbourne screening of Line Describing a Cone.
You can download it here. (2mb MP3 file, 12 minutes long).

[If anyone has photos, audio or video recordings from any of the Australian tour venues, please do send ‘em in, and we’ll post ‘em up here! - email to bilateral@bigfoot.com]

Sydney Moving Image Coalition
in association with
The Performance Space and IASKA
presents:
Anthony McCall’s legendary Line Describing a Cone
(16mm, 30 min, 1973).

Line Describing a Cone is a spectacular film and performance event. It is projected in a dark room filled with smoke or mist. The piece begins with a single point of light, which pierces this thick atmosphere like a laser beam. Gradually, the single point becomes an arc, and then a cone, which the audience can walk through, stand within, and play with.

Unlike conventional film screenings, Line Describing a Cone does not make use of a projection screen or seating. The cone of light which slowly forms itself in the space is a kind of immaterial sculpture, and the experience of every visitor moving around the space will, by definition, be unique.

Line Describing a Cone will be accompanied by film actions and projections by local artists in each of its five venues around Australia. They include Louise Curham, Abject Leader, Anne Walton, Lucas Ihlein, Botborg (more to be announced)…

For more information, pictures and reviews of Line Describing a Cone, click on the Anthony McCall Links located at the right hand side of this page.

To view a PDF flier for the tour, click here.
(If you would prefer to download the PDF (531kb) right click the above link and choose “save target as” or “save link as”…)

“… Anthony McCall’s Line Describing a Cone [is] a film which demanded to be looked at, not on the screen, but in the space of the auditorium. What was at issue was the establishment of a cone of light between the projector and the screen, out of what was initially one pencil-like beam of light. I consider it the most brilliant case of an observation on the essentially sculptural quality of every cinematic situation.”
- P. Adams Sitney, Artforum

Anthony McCall’s Line Describing a Cone

2005 Australian tour

tour dates:

KELLERBERRIN
Saturday 28 May 5.30pm
accompanied by Anne Walton, Louise Curham, Lucas Ihlein
the aurora project and IASKA
Massingham Street Kellerberrin
Free entry!

PERTH
Monday 30 May 7.30pm
accompanied by Anne Walton, Louise Curham, Lucas Ihlein
The Bakery Artrage Complex
233 James St Northbridge
entry $7 and $5

SYDNEY
Friday 3 June 7pm
accompanied by Lucas Ihlein and Louise Curham
Lanfranchi’s Memorial Discoteque
Level 2/144 Cleveland Street Sydney
entry $7 and $5

MELBOURNE
Saturday 4 June 7pm
accompanied by Lucas Ihlein and Louise Curham
Ignifuge
11a Hope Street Brunswick
entry $7 and $5

BRISBANE
Thursday 9th June 7pm
accompanied by Abject Leader, Vague Blur, Botborg, Lucas Ihlein
Juggler’s Cafe
103 Brunswick Street Fortitude Valley
entry $7 and $5

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This tour has also been assisted by Artrage, Western Power, LUX, Camera Electronic, and many others…
for enquiries:
please contact Lucas Ihlein
bilateral@bigfoot.com

To view a PDF flier for the tour, click here.
(If you would prefer to download the PDF (531kb) right click the above link and choose “save target as” or “save link as”…)

To view a flier for the Brisbane event, click here.