Philipp Fleischmann. Flashes of Resilience

Philipp Fleischmann’s artistic practice challenges traditional forms of filmic representation, opting for strategies that emphasize the undefined and the obscured through the lens of queer abstraction. Fleischmann’s approach often involves the development of site-specific cameras, tailor-made for each project to explore and reflect the nuanced physical and cultural dimensions of various institutional spaces.

Videointerview with Philipp Fleischmann

For Flashes of Resilience at Salzburger Kunstverein, the artist developed a new looped 735 cm long film sculpture, where the 16mm filmstrip carries various conceptions which sidestep traditional frame inscription, hence accentuating the dynamic and ever-changing perception of the visuals. The title’s flashes are not merely visual but integral to the narrative and thematic depth of the work, embodying moments of intensity and disruption that resonate with the overarching theme of resilience. The attention to color, light, and spatial arrangement encourages constant sensory shifts and reflects the effort and resilience needed to navigate the complexity of attribution and the ability to act.

This seventh iteration in a series of film sculptures incorporates a new design and conceptual framework, progressively interrogating and expanding the expressive potential of analog film. The sculpture at Salzburger Kunstverein introduces a new form and a high projector setup, altering how the film interacts with the surrounding space. These modifications transform the visual and auditory experience, highlighted by the classic projector’s distinct sound, adding a layer of cinematic ambiance to the space.

Curated by Mirela Baciak.

Film Sculpture (7)
16mm film, color, silent; aluminium, polyoxymethylene
240 cm x 136 cm x 21 cm
2024

Collaborators:
Display Device Design: Andreas Zißler
Construction: Noële Ody
Film Masks Design: Anna Haidegger
Film Mask Cutting: Gerhard Stocker

Technical Details:
Film material: 16mm on Kodak Vision 3 50D
Development & Printing: Augustus Color, Rome, Italy

Commissioned and produced by Salzburger Kunstverein.

Philipp Fleischmann (*1985, Hollabrunn, Austria) is an artist based in Vienna. His primary medium is analog film, through which he expresses his unique artistic vision. Fleischmann is known for developing site-specific cameras for his projects, allowing him to delve into and reflect upon the physical and cultural aspects of institutional spaces. Currently, he is exploring the concept of ‘queer abstraction’ in film, pushing the boundaries of traditional filmic expression.