Monique Allain

GROUNDING EXPERIENCES AND HABITATIONS - Connecting with the space

WALKS 1 - Video-installation

The video-installation consists of 24 videos from the WALKS series presented simultaneously on 24 different monitors mounted on the same wall, as shown in the image below. The videos are all looped. In the audios, the sound of walking mixed with the noise of the place where and when the action took place can be heard. The set constitutes a symphony of hikes.

WALKS Video Series

“Walks” reveal what I call “grounding experiences” or “habitations”. Through them I connect with the place where I am at that particular moment. This series of videos show actions integrated into their specific time-space context. I perform them while walking holding the camera facing the ground and filming. The moving images captured during the process reveals the events from the perspective of the body in action, and not from an external observer.

The images of the videos are blurred because of the camera set in zoom-in mode, amplifying the notion of displacement. There is no acceleration in the editing, and the sequences are preserved without any intermediary cut.

The images resulting from each action have their own autonomy and constitute an independent work. Each video can be presented individually, projected in large format, on a wall of a room, in order to provide the audience with an immersive experience.

The videos are also used as basic elements for building installations whose format varies, depending on the configuration of the place where they will be presented. They are like plants that spread and inhabit the environment according to the conditions of the space. Multiple videos are displayed simultaneously, projected on the walls and on monitors distributed throughout the space. Projections and monitors overlap and form a kaleidoscope. This ensemble results in a profusion of sounds and images in motion, a mosaic of different situations cohabiting within the exhibition room.

The videos are looped and have varying lengths of time. The visual and sound composition of the set is renewed as the sequences repeat.

The videos are indexes, traces of the performances depicted in the videos.

Each “action & place & time” has its own chromatic and sonorous vibration. They are attempts to inhabit a particular situation within a suspended present continuous time.

I have been producing and accumulating this series of images since 2008.

2022NOV19 8H22AM Lat 41° 21' 24.12" N / Long 73° 36' 7.56" W Walk, 1’02”, 2022.

2022JUN26 5H24PM Lat 41° 1' 6.96" N / Long 72° 8' 43.08" W Walk, 0’18”, 2022.

2021MAY04 6H30PM Lat 41° 21' 21.6" N / Long 73° 36' 11.88" W Walk, Video, 0’45”, 2021.

2021MAY04 6H27PM Lat 41° 21' 24.12" N / Long 73° 36' 7.56" W Walk, 1’02”, 2021.

2021MAY04 6H25PM Lat 41° 21' 25.2" N / Long 73° 36' 10.8" W Walk, Video, 0’57”, 2021.

2021MAY04 6H23PM Lat 41° 21' 26.64" N / Long 73° 36' 7.56" W Walk, Video, 0’50”, 2021.

2021APR03 6H36PM Lat 40° 46' 25.32" N / Long 73° 58' 55.56" W Walk, Video, 0’38”, 2021.

2021MAY03 5H56PM Lat 40° 43' 29.64" N / Long 74° 0' 5.4" W WALK, Video, 0’29”, 2021.

2021MAY03 6H05PM Lat 40° 43' 36.84" N / Long 74° 0' 0.36" W, WALK, Video, 0’20”, 2021.

2021APR30 6H36PM KEY BISCAYNE WALK, Video, 0’28”, 2021.

2021APR30 6H37PM KEY BISCAYNE WALK, Video, 0’33”, 2021.

2021APR30 6H23PM KEY BISCAYNE WALK, Video, 0’24”, 2021.

2021APR30 6H34PM KEY BISCAYNE WALK, Video, 0’32”, 2021.

2021APR30 5H34PM KEY BISCAYNE WALK, Video, 0’18”, 2021.

2021APR30 5H37PM Lat 25° 42' 9.72" N / Long 80° 9' 13.68" W , Video, 0’22”, 2021.

2021APR18 3H56PM NORTH SALEM ND WALK, Video, 0’36”, 2021.

2021APR13 7H38AM NORTH SALEM ND WALK, Video, 0’17”, 2021.

2021APR13 7H39AM Lat 41° 21' 25.92" N / Long 73° 36' 9.36" W WALK, Video, 0’28”, 2021.

2021APR13 7H32AM NORTH SALEM ND WALK, Video, 0’19”, 2021.

2021APR13 7H34AM NORTH SALEM ND WALK, Video, 0’25”, 2021.

2021APR07 3H53PM NORTH SALEM ND WALK, Video, 0’33”, 2021.

2021APR07 3H59PM NORTH SALEM ND WALK, Video, 0’39”, 2021.

2021APR07 3H49PM NORTH SALEM ND WALK, Video, 0’25”, 2021.

2021APR07 3H50PM NORTH SALEM ND WALK, Video, 0’30”, 2021.

2021FEB04 4PM NORTH SALEM ND WALK, Video, 1’47”, 2021.

2021JAN31 10AM NORTH SALEM ND WALK, Video, 0’17”, 2021.

2021JAN19 2:30PM ASTORIA BLVD WALK, Video, 0’37”, 2021.

2020OCT20 10AM NORTH SALEM ND WALK, Video 0’43”, 2020.

2010AUG03 10H32PM PARATY WALK, Video 0’59”, 2010.

P CAMPO 1B-1 WALK, Video 1’50”, 2008-2011.

P CAMPO 2B-3 WALK, Video 2’01”, 2008-2011.

P CAMPO 4B, Video 2’09”, 2008-2011.

P SAMPA 1B-03 WALK, Video 2’25”, 2008-2011.

P SAMPA 2B-03 WALK, Video 0’37”, 2008-2011.

PARIS 20081109 1, Video 3’12”, 2008.

PARIS 20081109 2, Video 1’12”, 2008.

20081109 VERSAILLES WALK, Video 1’44”, 2008.

GROUNDS Video Series

I circle in place with the camera facing forward.

NORTH SALEM ND 2021APR18 4H42PM GROUND, Video 0’12”, 2021.

NORTH SALEM ND 2021APR18 4H40PM GROUND, Video 0’08”, 2021.

NORTH SALEM ND 2021APR18 4H39PM GROUND, Video 0’10”, 2021.

NORTH SALEM ND 2021APR13 7H38AM GROUND, Video 0’12”, 2021.

NORTH SALEM ND 2021APR18 4H37PM GROUND, Video 0’14”, 2021.

NORTH SALEM ND 2021FEB04 4PM GROUND, Video 0’16”, 2021.

ASTORIA BLVD & 3OTH AVE 2021JAN19 2:30PM GROUND, Video 0’12”, 2021.

NORTH SALEM ND 2021JAN31 10AM GROUND, Video 0’14”, 2021.

VIEWS Video Series

I walk with the camera tuned sideways.

V-GUARAPIRANGA VIEW, Video 0’44”, 2008-2011.

V-JARDIM VIEW, Video 1’00”, 2008-2011.

V-SAMPA 3B03X VIEW, Video 1’11”, 2008-2011.

V-SAMPA 4B03-1 VIEW, Video 0’40”, 2008-2011.

V-SAMPA 4B03-2 VIEW, Video 1’08”, 2008-2011.

V-SAMPA 4B03-3 VIEW, Video 0’36”, 2008-2011.

V-SAMPA 4B03-4 VIEW, Video 1’15”, 2008-2011.

V-SAMPA 5B02-1 VIEW, Video 0’39”, 2008-2011.

V-SAMPA 5B02-2 VIEW, Video 0’49”, 2008-2011.

V-SAMPA 5B02-3 VIEW, Video 1’29”, 2008-2011.

I perform the action while holding the camera and filming. The video captured during the process reveals the event from the perspective of the body in action, and not from the perspective of an external observer.

The camera lens is set in the zoom-in mode. Due to this, a blurred image is created, that amplifies the notion of displacement.

There is no acceleration of the images in the editing, and the sequences are preserved without any intermediary cut.

The images resulting from each action have their own autonomy and constitute an independent work. Each video can be presented individually, projected in large format, on a wall of a room, in order to provide the audience with an immersive experience.

The videos are also used as basic elements for building installations whose format varies, depending on the configuration of the place where they will be presented. They are like plants that spread and inhabit the environment according to the conditions of the space. Multiple videos are displayed simultaneously, projected on the walls and on monitors distributed throughout the space. Projections and monitors overlapp and form a kaleidoscope. This ensemble results in a profusion of sounds and images in motion, a mosaic of different situations cohabiting within the exhibition room.

The videos are looped and have varying lengths of time. The visual and sound composition of the set is renewed as the sequences repeat.

The videos are indexes, traces of the performances depicted in the videos.

Each “action & place & time” has its own chromatic and sonorous vibration. They are attempts to inhabit a particular situation within a suspended present continuous time.

I have been producing and accumulating this series of images since 2008.

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