Boris Eldagsen
German videomaker
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biography
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Interview: 10 Questions
Interview:10 questions
1. Tell me something about your life and the educational background
I studied Philosophy and Visual Arts in Cologne and Mainz (Germany), Prague (Czech Republic) and Hyderabad (India). My focus was on photography and conceptual art.
2. When, how and why started you filming?
During my studies, when I realised I had ideas that could not be translated into photography, because they needed to develop over time.
3. What kind of subjects have your films?
My work explores metaphysical to erotic aspects of a timeless human phenomenon – the urge to lose oneself. In referring to this phenomenon as either ‘Mysticism’ (religion), ‘Transpersonality’ (psychology), ‘Desire to Escape’ (Aldous Huxley) or ‘Transgression’ and ‘Unproductive Consumption of the Surplus’ (Georges Bataille), there has always been a redemptive mode to being human.
This redemption can come in a positive or negative form, upward or downward – as we can all disappear into something larger or smaller: religion. drugs, mass events, love, sex, extreme sports, hypnosis etc.
4. How do you develop your films, do you follow certain principles, styles etc?
As my background lies in photography, I refrain from using cinematic principles. There are hardly any cuts and no camera movement in my video works.
5. Tell me something about the technical equipment you use.
In the past mini-DV. Nowadays HD.
6. The field of “art and moving images” (one may call it videoart or also differently) is representing an important counter position in contemporary art. Tell me more about your personal position and how you see the future of this field ( your personal future and the future of “art and moving images”)
Frankly I am not interested in trends. I have followed my own subject for years and this will continue. But as the technology of viewing modes like LCD screens advances, videos can be presented like moving photography on flat, framed screens. This is something I am going to explore deeper, that of combining moving and still images.
7. How do you finance your films?
Funding applications. Plus doing jobs in the social media industry.
8. Do you work individually as a video artist/film maker or do you work in a team?
if you have experience in both, what is the difference, what do you prefer?
Both. And I prefer both. You gain a lot from stepping out of your normal comfort zone and collaborating with people.
9. Who or what has a lasting influence on your film/video making?
Alejandro Jodorowsky
10. What are your plans or dreams as a film/video maker?
Continuing my personal path.
Can works of yours viewed online besides on CologneOFF or VideoChannel? Where?
www.eldagsen.com
www.spamthemusical.com
www.borisandnatascha.com