Pipilotti at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2010
19 Feb 2010 Conversation with Pipilotti In this latest blog entry, Pipilotti in conversation with journalist Michael Gubbins.

Despite the many international accolades collected by Pipilotti Rist, she retains a very particular interest in audience reaction. “When an installation is put in I pretend to be a visitor and I start to discuss with them about what she did.”

The Swiss artist and film-maker sees real value in such interaction – an opportunity to see what kind of response her work elicits. The audience may bring a challengingly different interpretation of work and that is important, she suggests. Indeed, she encourages it through email correspondence. That same opportunity is not really open to the film-maker, particularly in the traditional theatrical context. “In a cinema, people are concentrated all together in one bubble and then they leave and spread. It is easier with an installation to hear what people think. In art you always get more chance to get a response,” says the artist, whose first full-length feature film Pepperminta was released last year.

Cinema Reloaded then offers a chance to recreate the kind of audience relationship she has come to value. It is an idea that clearly has appeal: “I am extremely interested to have co-producers as a kind of virtual counterpart.” These kind of co-producers have a different kind of commitment than the more conventional financiers, she suggests. “They have no special interest that means they would say ‘change the ending.” They do not intervene in any commercial way to say you have to do it this way or to make it more mainstream.”

What she is hoping for is that backers will be as interested in the project as she is, interested in seeing ideas develop and come to fruition. Rist is convinced that the internet can be an enabling tool that benefits creator and audience. “It is not a threat or an alternative (to cinema) yet,”“What it can be is a liberating tool that puts the audience in the picture, perhaps enabling new creative possibilities,” she suggests. “Maybe art history could have always been like this.”
Comments
Starting interaction via email with the co-producers?
Hi Pipilotti,
In the february-1 video report of the debate about new ways of funding independent cinema and Cinema Reloaded (* see ref. below) you told us -- during your conversation with journalist Michael Gubbins -- that you would like to start interaction with your co-producers via an email-letter: "I have all the email addresses of my co-producers and I will (.) write them a letter - but first I have to think clearly what I can offer, (what I ...) how our interaction can be - and I will also have their ideas of interaction - and than making a res earch .. and then a second proposition ..".
I wonder how are you doing with this, and whether you might start sharing us the first thoughts or ideas that came to your mind and start this email-interaction you were planning? Thanks, success, Michel
* Reference: "Video Report: the Re: Reloaded debate about Cinema Reloaded" at the CinemaReloaded's Channel at YouTube -- from minute: 2.12-2.37 -- link: youtube.com/watch?v=t7Y3Wnkbu2U
By: michelvanderburg | monday 19 july 2010 21:47
Dearest Pipilotti, I am an American installation artist. I was born in the USA in l962. Currently I am a mother of two, owner of a Montessori School, a musician that gigs and performs approximately three times a month and finishing my last 9 credits for my Bachelors of Fine Art in sculpture - I graduate in April. I have a CD and would be happy to send you one if you would like (for free) or you can find my music on myspace Bridget Kelly. I was first exposed to your work while reading In the Making by Linda Weintraub. I was drawn to your work as we are similar in many respects. Later, as an assignment in our studio arts class the professor put artists names in a hat and I drew your name. (University of Florida)
The assignment was to pretend we are collaborating and come up with art that would reflect the collaboration. I started exploring you further and feel I was very lucky to randomly chose you as we are so similar in our approach and artistic ideals. I look forward to following your current project as it unfolds and being a part of it. Sincerely, Bridget Kelly (Fik) Gainesville, Florida USA
By: Bridget Kelly (Fik) | monday 08 march 2010 18:49
Conversation with Pipilotti (19 Feb 2010)
yes! (24 Nov 2009)