Visual Remarks

Visual Remarks relates to contemporary art, visual anthropology and new photography theory. The markers of Visual Remarks are concepts as ‘collaborative production’, ‘collective reflexivity’ and ‘reconstruction.’

Visual Remarks focuses on collaborative and trans-disciplinary practices based on and around visual media research. Recordings and films are thus often produced through strong inter-personal relationships, where the involved parties actively exchange ideas, knowledge, experiences and equipment.

The Visual Remarks projects span over a wide thematic range. As an example, they include collaborations with self-organized groups that derive from concepts and questions regarding identity and action. There is also a strong thematic presence emphasizing child’s play and children’s storytelling culture, along with the often overlooked qualities in this tight cultural circuit.

Visual Remarks incorporates projects, narrative identity documentaries, documentary notes, accounts, articles, examples, reversion, notes, sketches …

Welcome to my website,  Lars Henningsen

 

A Saturday in Mexico City – Pinhole Camera

The pinhole camera activity was arranged by the cultur group Colectivo MOCO – November 19, 2011, Plaza de San Jerónimo, Centro Histórico, Mexico CityMusic: Traditional barrel organ from Mexico City. Photography and video: Participants and Grete Aagaard.

A Saturday in Mexico City - Pinhole Camera  (4:20) -11/-13

 

Freedom to speak up

The project and film ‘Freedom to speak up’ is about joint development of a sound production for the local radio on women’s rights in the current social and political life in and around Guamote, Ecuador. Partners was The Womens Group in Guamote.

The recordings included readings of the rights which was decided in the local council and role-playing. The documentary ‘Freedom to Speak up’ show preparations and recordings. Under intense astonishment formal character of the rights María Carmen Moyolema Guachilema and her women’s group rehearse the most powerful reading.

The radioprogramme became a part of the womens educational workshops during spring -12. The video was edited almost instantly, it was screened toghether with The Womens Group and copied on the spot.

Freedom to speak up  (7:30) 2012

 

People and voices 

Radio “Wisdom of man”

The documentary process was done in collaboration with Mariano Poaquiza who is a key person at the radio station Runacunapac. Since the early 80s Mariano has maintained the local tradition of broadcasting music, greetings, political messages, information and education out to remote homes in the Andes around the village of Simiátug.

People and Voices (11:40)  2011/2012

Mariano says:  “On the radio I have made my life, I have worked here because I quite like it. I like listening to music and communicate with others, on the radio I have made many friends, many of them know me. The radio is special where there is no TV. People listen to us in small radios, as there is no TV signal because of the geographical conditions, the medium wave radio signal arrives good and quickly.”

See: simiatug.com

 

SPEED HUMP

A new, dangerous road cut through the jungles of Ecuador. A pressing problem for the families in Uunt Chiwias in Ecuador is the design of a recently completed road through the former jungle area. The laying of asphalt paving on the road means that now cars drive at breakneck speed through the pedestrian areas. Our Indian friends insisted on having speed humps. Both adults and children express the view that speed humps should be established as a solution.

Artist Grete Aagaard and documentarist  Lars Henningsen collaborate with the families to create a video that makes this severe problem visible to the world. The result was a film, which was immediately was broadcasted on local television in the nearby city Macas.

In the cross of documentary, activism and visual art this project presents an issue affecting a local population. This production aims at raising awareness about remote desicions that has adverce affetcs on small communities like the one presented in this film.

SPEED HUMP (5:23)  2008 – Reversioned 2010

 

What goes around … The day proverbs connected Gellerup and Åbyhøj

Documentaric insight into a 6th grade project at Gellerup, Aarhus. Although this part of the town is considered as a so called ghetto area the project revealed  extended social resources and skills among the participating young girls.

The artists Grete Aagaard and Tanja Nellemann worked together with the class in spring 2010. Text and ornaments covered almost 400 meters of a sidewalk. The project could be seen three or four days in May until the rain washed away the work.

With my digital camera I spontaneously filmed the row of decorated slabs, while I moved in and out between cyclists and pedestrians.

The film covers a wide range of different shots from the project’s completion. The involved girls attentively read the proverbs and they gave feedback on the editing.

What goes around  (4:15) 2010

Poster/Article: 'What goes around comes around. Art, communication and public spaces: with proverbs, ornaments, chalk on the pavement of the city'. HOW to FOLD

 

 The Invention. Stories of a cannon

 A film about memory, search for recognition and identity

The Invention tells the story of the breakfast product called ‘puffed cereal’. The events occurred during World War II and up through the middle fifties. We witness the dramatic episodes which revolved around the invention.

The effect was so powerful that the machine was knocked loose from its concrete foundation, and the bang could be heard for miles around in the widespread forests of central Jutland. Hence, for obvious reasons, the invention was called ‘the cannon’. We learn this from Knud Rasmussen, the inventor’s son. He grew up at the small factory which was built around the ‘cannon’, Lystruphave Puff Corn Fabrik.

The Invention. Stories of a Cannon  (17:45) 2008 / Reversioned 2010

The story contains a number of key scenes. For instance Knud Rasmussen tells us that as a child he went to Kastrup Airport with his father to pick up Keith Kellogg who had arrived from the U.S.A. to inspect the unique invention. During the shooting of The Invention this situation was recreated with the assistance of DC3 Friends Denmark and Dakota Norway. Surprisingly enough the investigative film process uncovered that puff cannons are used extensively in South Korea.

The film’s soundtrack contains music by experimental Danish band Laila & Symfobia, both concert recordings and tracks from the band’s release Perler og Svin.

 

The Fish in the Hammock and other Animations

Children are drawing films on small notepads. The video gives an insight into children’s narratives, their use of effects from the media and their interest in drawing and creating sound. The drawing materials are simple, but the children’s animations and narratives are very precise and vivid.

The Fish in the Hammock is part of af lager project: Play Culture – Playing Media. It focuses on exactly those expressions of play which are found in informal cultural contexts. The children show what engage them and the documentarist is an active part of these investigative and productive processes.

The Fish in the Hammock and other Animations  (9:00) 1999

 

Gertrud the Ant and Other Narratives and Plays

The video shows the multiplicity of expressions that children build up in their play cultures. The children play the role of co-creative documentarists in the after-school institution at Risskov School. They often handle camera and microphone and take part in a collaboration to create narratives about play.

Gertrud the Ant and Other Narratives and Plays 21:00. 2000

Poster/Article: 'What goes around comes around. Art, communication and public space: with proverbs, ornamentation on the pavements of the city' by Lars Henningsen, in: Speak Up # 5 . In the Hood, 2011. Project: Grete Aagaard and Tanja Nelleman. How to fold

‘The Video Camera in Play and Narrative' i: Tidsskrift for børne- og ungdomskultur, Dis-play, Refleksivitet – intersubjektivitet – visualitet, nr. 48,  2005