Nicole F. Loeser

The focus of the instal­lation, cis, by Elmar Hess, is that of a video projection depicting a sea’s waterline quickly slipping by. Taken from the vantage point of a ship’s porthole, white-capped waves wash in peaks and valleys over its glass. The movement of the water seems to mimic the tone and rhythm of a peculiarly unfolding music that accom­panies the video. The key to this audio counterpart is c‑sharp.

Within the room of the video projection a series of large tubular bells chimes are suspended from above that together comprise a musical scale. Between these dormant tubes, live birds fly freely through the space. Their bright chirps establish a counter­point to the antic­i­pated deep resonance of the bells, while their erratic fluttering about dynam­i­cally contrasts the continuous, regular shifting weight of the ship’s hull within the video.

The work, cis, (meaning C‑Sharp), is one component of a larger project titled, Elizabeth, which comprises a five-room instal­lation. It addresses the function of individuals in the greater context of today’s rapid pace of change. (…)