In their second video collaboration, Director Oliver Heath and Artist Ben Frost will be presenting the video installation “Boob Tube” as part of the Electric Encounters exhibition at the Plump Gallery – 240 Enmore Road – from September 10th until 20th. We chat with Oliver about the work.
As a director, what attracted you to Ben’s work?
I like how complex it is. It most apparent when you see his imitators work, they get all the buzz and frenzy but they miss the social critique. His work continues to be interesting after the initial impact has past.
What is, and what inspired “Boob Tube”?
Ben often works with the TV on and is an expert in informercials and the banality of daytime TV. We thought it would be fun to take some elements from his work that were inspired by TV and put them back on the TV again. It’s recursive OMG!
How did the project come about? What brought you and Ben together?
This is the second video work we’ve collaborated on. We both have studios in Hibernian house and are good friends. I’ve been threatening to do something long form with Ben, so these small video works could be considered as vignettes of the larger project.
You’re presenting the piece as part of Electric Encounters, a celebration of the digital arts. What have been some of your favourite digital arts installations in recent memory?
Cockatoo Island the Sydney Biennale before last featured some amazing work, the island has such a strong presence that it interacted with the work -the island was the installation. Matthew Barney’s Cremaster Cycle continues to set the standard. Harriet Birks does great live video remixing. The timebomb interactive graffiti cube was really cool. All the work of Tom Ellard of Severed Heads fame, a real trailblazer. Cathy Vogan does great Avant-garde work integrating live performance and video. Soda Jerk are super rad. Check em all out!
Where else will we see Oliver Heath’s name in the coming months?
I have a music video I co-directed for The Chaingang coming out, A short film for Saint Augustine Academy, I DOP’ed a short called ‘Hirsute’ that just showed at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival and will no doubt do the rounds. I have a couple of music videos, a short film, and a documentary project on the slate that I’m pretty excited about. And hopefully some more art collaborations, it’s a good break to traditional film crews. No Weddings videos, but plenty of fashion videos to earn a living.