RADIO ISLAND

A MEDITATION ON JAPAN

of MC ELWEE Van

UNITED STATES, 1997, 00:12:00

Production : MC ELWEE Van
Genre : Video art
Keyword : Allegory, Sound creation, Special effects, Travel

Summary :
In Buddhist architecture, the pagoda symbolizes Nirvana, the state of enlightenment. In RADIO ISLAND this metaphor is expanded to include the entire built environnement and the whole of ordinary consciousness. Mutating images of ancient and modern Japanese structures develop within a complex electronic score of radio signals and data transmission. Unusual editing techniques weave these images and sounds into a dense field of improvisation. The resulting texture becomes the raw material for totally new forms. Through a sea of noise, RADIO ISLAND charts a course from architecture to music; from the referential to the absolute. RADIO ISLAND is also designed as an installation for a single monitor. An exhibit of video stills is also available for exhibition.

VAN McELWEE’s body of video work includes over forty single channel pieces and installations. Grants and awards include The American Film Institute Independent Filmmaker Award, The National Endowment for the Arts Independent Production Fund (seven time recipient), and a travel grant from the Government of India. McElwee’s work is exhibited extensively worldwide and is represented by The Kitchen in New York, Trabant Gallery in Austria, Heure Exquise! in France, and the Inter Media Art Institute in Germany. Van McElwee is Professor of Electronic and Photographic Media at Webster University in St. Louis.

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