| As
you may know by now, a holographic portrait of the Queen has been
commissioned as part of the 1204-2004 celebrations. BBC Jersey's
Ryan Morrison had the opportunity to interview the artist Chris
Levine about the portrait.
RM:
Portraiture of the Queen is normally associated with more 'traditional'
media than those your work is known for. How do you think your portrait
will be received?
CL:
The nature of my work invites question - the very mode of expression
is unfamiliar and I hope this deepens the impact of the visual signal.
My creative process has distilled the work to a hypervisual iconic
image and it represents the latest evolution of imaging. The future
starts now, all that has been is history.
Of
course I am very proud to be granted this opportunity and I take
responsibility very seriously - and with great pleasure. I am not
a portrait artist in the conventional sense - not by a long shot,
yet Ihope my sensibility for visual expression and innovation in
the use of light validates why I was commissioned to do this work.
 |
An
installation created for the British Council Office in Tokyo
by Chris Levine.
Photo: Yukihiro Yamada |
Through
its honest simplicity, innovation and sense of purity, I hope it
will be recieved for the modernity and creativity it represents.
Lit in a single frequency of blue light, the experience of percieving
the image will be amplified and memorable.
RM: With the Queen at the centre of the portrait how do
you intend to "symbolise and celebrate Jersey"?
CL:
I have incorporated the three leopards in such a way that they feature
as a holorgraphic 'watermark' - they will appear and dissapear depending
on the angle of view. It is only with this imaging process that
this could be achieved in such a way. The nature of the work in
terms of medium I hope conveys a sense of modernity that represents
Jersey today.
RM:
How do you see the function of your holographic portraits as opposed
to more traditional mediums such as oil paintings or stone sculptures?
CL:
We live in an age where technology is becoming increasingly
entwined with humanity - we are in a technological revolution and
it is natural that my work is accepted of the age, contemporary
along side and born out of tradition.
RM:
We understand that Her Majesty sat for you in November, can you
tell us how the work is coming along?
CL:
I have much footage and am editing and distilling the material.
I used two recording techniques, a linear rail digital camera system
and a 3D computer scanner - the combination of this data gives me
fertile scope for developing the work.
I have
been granted a second sitting later this month to shoot more footage
and I am thrilled at this - it was unexpected and I am very pleased
that her majesty found the experience positive.
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