Trance and Travel: The Work of Ben Russell

About This Screening

"Psychedelic ethnography" is perhaps the most frequent—and piquant—label applied to the work of Ben Russell. The peripatetic artist has crafted a uniquely recognizable and contemporary experimental approach to "anthropological" and "documentary" modes of filmmaking which uses captivating, and sometimes dizzying, visual effects paired with sharp, enveloping sound and music. In Ponce de León, co-directed with Jim Drain, the camera slowly rotates around a 360º axis, creating an unsettling sense of perspective which pulls the viewer into the psychic space of the protagonist who, after finally drinking from the fountain of youth, is trapped in the infinite spin of immortal time. This video is situated amongst several of Russell's Trypps, an extremely diverse series which showcases the artist’s techniques and interests. As Russell has stated, “[u]sing a fabricated Old English word as its guiding principle, this ongoing series of (mostly) 16mm films is conceptually organized around the possible meanings that its title elicits—physical voyages, psychedelic journeys, and a phenomenological experience of the world." The second night of this program features Russell's most recent films, slightly longer shorts that explore many of the same concepts and approaches introduced through the Trypps, but now travel to new geographies and place new formal approaches on display. Cinema Project is thrilled to welcome Ben Russell to Portland for this two night program.