Film 'Dreamland'

In the lead up to the exhibition at the Pie Factory I have been experimenting with 'found' film of the now closed Dreamland Amusement  Park in Margate, Kent. Using Adobe Premier Pro I have re-editied and layered several films to create a defining set of images of the scenic railway; my aim to document  time, whilst aiding the re-call of memories by the viewer. Originally the film was edited in black and white, however following a viewing amongst my peers at an MA seminar it was suggested that I revert back to colour. The coloured film I feel is far more successful as it not only captures the colours of the park but also helps to define the various elements. Film stills have also been capture to illustrate the many moments contained within the film. Prior to exhibiting at the Pie factory the film was also included within the 'Little Cinema' exhibition at the Horsebridge Art Centre, as part of the Whitstable Biennale 2012.

Statement to accompany film:

‘ a rollercoaster is unwittingly constructed with such geometry that those who take the ride emerge decades from the point at which they began.’ (Victor Burgin)

My work explores the relationship between place, memory and time, and how this maybe illustrated both visually and aesthetically. I aim to poetically traverse these elements whilst illustrating the existence of the site; a means for the past to be re-called to the present. The assemblage of films form and collate many memories of Dreamland that aim to transport the viewer; an attempt to bring about collective memory of the site through a series of images. The process of manipulation has evolved as a method of index; capturing a series of moments within a single defining film that mirrors Dreamlands existence.

Stills

Helen