malus sapiens

this 9 minute film was a submission element in a module of my MA Fine Art (Falmouth, 2024 - 2026).

it began as a deep-listening conversation with an old apple tree. 

the film is close-focus, exploring physicality and texture - giving attention to the tree - her environment, sounds and movement. also considering the materiality of film - the dynamic play of light and colour on the screen. and improvising with chance moments in a relational repetitous serialist process.

the sounds that open the film - and the final minute or so - are internal sounds of life and flow from within the tree.  

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‘tintinnabuli’ is a term developed by Arvo Pärt to describe a melody running over a repeated triad chord. using this structure the process of change and development in the film is slow, with three visual elements playing the part of the underlying triad:

1. the whole present tree
2. the sunshine breaking through leaves and branches
3. the obscured movement of dark and light across the tree’s surface

the further visual elements play the part of a more transitory melody line.

similarly three sounds take the part of the triad:

1. the tree’s internal flows & creaking
2. the other than human environmental sounds
3. the habitual interweaving of human sounds in this place - a plane passing / a double bass playing in the distance…

the shrutti / harmonium drones / song / story take the melody line development over the triad - story and song describing attachment between self and place in the physicality of breath, the resonance of voice, the represented meaning created through imaginings and sixth sense experience of other.