Two activities that are not exactly the favorite pastimes of the modern city dweller, namely waiting, and being puzzled by something, are the main components of David Claerbout's art. His video works unfold their impact at a patiently slow pace, and often at first sight appear to operate in contradiction to the medium: the film one is watching seems to be a photo on a screen. Investing only three and a half seconds of one's time-the average length spent by a typical museum visitor in front of an artwork, according to an estimate once made by the artist Philippe Parreno - it would be easy to miss the pleasure of being taken quietly by surprise by Claerbout's works. And with only three and a half minutes of patience, one cannot apprehend the highlights of some of these works, as the changes in the image often only reveal themselves after a longer period of viewing, or the essential point may be visible for a few seconds only. Shadow Piece is a prime example of how the idea behind Claerbout's works can be overlooked if one is satisfied with first impressions. [...]

Till Briegleb
Translation: Celia Brown


Catalogue excerpt
fast forward 2. The Power of Motion
Media Art Sammlung Goetz
Editors: Ingvild Goetz and Stephan Urbaschek
Ostfildern, Hatje Cantz, 2010