John AKOMFRAH, "Four Nocturnes"
- idzia13200
- Apr 5, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 2
John AKOMFRAH, Four Noctures
📍The Tower, Luma Foundation, Arles
▪️ Installation iDzia : triptych video projection, 7.1 sound
John AKOMFRAH, "Four Nocturnes"
The three-screen video installation Four Nocturnes by John Akomfrah is the third installment of a film trilogy, following Vertigo Sea (2015) and Purple (2017). These works explore the complex, intertwined relationship between the destruction of the natural world by humanity and our self-destruction. With Four Nocturnes, Akomfrah invites us into a poignant reflection on the human condition, examining how we interact with the natural world and the dramatic consequences of these interactions.
The film centers around the tragic decline of African elephant populations, which serves as a powerful symbol of the fragility of the global ecosystem and African cultural heritage. This biological tragedy becomes a metaphor for our own destruction, the decline of our societies, and our fragmented identities. Through strong, poetic imagery, the artist invites viewers into an impressionistic meditation on mortality, loss, identity, mythology, and memory, navigating the landscape of African cultural heritage.
The three-screen projection allows for multiple perspectives and creates an immersive experience for the viewer. Using a high-quality 7.1 audio system, the installation offers a complete sensory experience that envelops the audience. The sound, images, and colors combine to create a captivating visual and auditory journey, where each screen, shot, and movement adds emotional and intellectual depth that resonates long after the projection ends.
The visuals of Four Nocturnes stand out for their raw poetry, capturing the essence of the African landscape and its cultures while addressing the universal themes of collective memory and heritage. The images seem to tell timeless stories, while confronting us with our responsibility in the destruction of our planet and its inhabitants. Through this work, John Akomfrah succeeds in touching on a wide range of societal and environmental issues, evoking sincere and profound emotion from the viewer.
Four Nocturnes is an invitation to look within ourselves and become aware of our place in the world, both as individuals and as a collective. It is a work that questions our relationship with nature, memory, and loss, while confronting us with the urgency to preserve our environment and redefine our relationship with the planet.
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from June, 26, 2021 to May, 1st, 2022
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