SCHQ Electric presents Hilary Lloyd, Rich (1999)

15 May-21 May 2020

Overview

The next screening on SCHQ Electric is Hilary Lloyd’s Rich (1999): https://www.sadiecoles.com/video Originally intended to be viewed on a video monitor, and experienced as a three-dimensional sculptural presence, Lloyd’s silent short film features the routine process of a young man, Rich, having his head closely shaved with hair clippers. Filmed from a static viewpoint in a single take, the evocation of intimacy and close observation is characteristic of Lloyd’s early works featuring urban young men engaging in seemingly banal everyday activities; the meticulous focus of her lens mirroring the quiet concentration of the protagonist. The mise-en-scène takes on a captivating and painterly quality, subversively redolent of classical portraiture. Rich is encountered in three-quarter profile and cast in chiaroscuro against a deep vermillion wall. Though minimal editing has been undertaken, the intimacy within the scene is carefully orchestrated, inviting the viewer to become a participant by engaging in Lloyd’s seductive mode of observation. Devoid of sound, the film presents enigmatic narrative gesture and investigation into modes of experiencing time and place.