Lena Phalén | Small Gate, Infinite Gate | Review

Small gate infinite field at Generator Projects is Glasgow based artist Christopher MacInnes’ first solo exhibition. It consists of two computer-generated animations which incorporate sound and scripted text.

It is not always necessary to be familiar with the concepts of the artworks to appreciate an exhibition, but in this case it provides structure and adds value to the work.

The exhibition leaflet states: ‘The work was borne from a period of exploring the post-human nature of the internet: it’s a consideration of the environmental and human cost of our progress towards a cloud based world’

The first work is distinctly dystopian. A large projection follows a winding journey along an urban structure in a dark landscape. The scene draws you in and the changing perspectives evokes the sensation of a slowly moving roller coaster.

Booming industrial music adds to a feeling of threat, but it is mingled with fascination. The next piece is an animation of a serene, tropical forest, a stark contrasts to the dystopian urban landscape- a version of utopia, void of humans. Bright pink monitors, insect like at the first glance, are attached to the tree trunks. Now and then they turn. A calm, enticing female voiceover accompanies the dreamy soundtrack. The piece also includes a video-recorded projection of a tree on the ceiling, its leaves dropping and slowly floating towards the ground. Momentarily the act of looking up on the tree creates the illusion of it being real and present in the exhibition space. This brings to mind the different layers of reality that people can experience, through computers, TVs, and dreams.

Through cleverly thought out manipulation of graphic and actual space MacInnes has succeeded in creating an immersive experience. This is a thoroughly well thought out and executed body of works that works well in Generator Projects industrial venue.