Binocular Zoom

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© Generali Foundation Collection—Permanent Loan to the Museum der Moderne Salzburg, Repro: Werner Kaligofsky

Dan Graham

Binocular Zoom, 1969-70

Film installation 2 films, 16mm, transferred from Super-8-films, color, silent, synchronous, adjoined projection next to each other 22 sec (loop) Edition 1/10 + 2 A. P.

GF0003309.00.0-2002

Artwork text

Two Super 8mm movie cameras with identical zoom lenses are placed with the viewfinder flush to each of my eyes. Each of the cameras’ images are focused on the sun somewhat obscured by a cloudy sky. The image of each camera corresponds to the double retinal images of the right and left eyes. Filming begins with both cameras simultaneously. Initially, the images synchronously are extreme close-up views, maximum disparity between the right and the left images being caused as they “halve” the sun. The two zoom lenses open their respective fields of view at the same rate until reaching their fullest extend. Both images diminish in size to a “distance.” In viewing, the films made by the two cameras are simultaneously projected as a split-screen-image. (Dan Graham)