Structures of Nature by Martin Gerigk
Here at Moving Poems we sometimes like to push at the boundaries of what may be considered videopoetry. Structures of Nature is another instance of this. Beyond any theoretical interest in stretching these boundaries, we share it simply because it is a virtuosic marvel of a film that centrally incorporates text among its elements.
The piece has had its widest recognition under the auspices of experimental film, screening at over 150 festivals and gathering multiple awards. Of course, experimental film is a major area of influence on so many videopoems. The relative freedom of subject and form inherent to both poetry and experimental film make for a natural partnership.
The concept, video, editing, music and soundtrack of Structures of Nature are all by German artist, Martin Gerigk, whose bio states that he is primarily a composer and arranger for orchestra and chamber music, with audiovisual art a second string in his creative work. Certainly, the soundtrack is a prime feature of the film’s great impact.
Forget viewer control over sequential perception or any ability to take in all elements of this film at once. The best way to view it is to let go of these traditional expectations and allow the mind to process it on levels beyond straightforward cognition. One of Gerigk’s intentions is to evoke a synaesthetic experience, in which the stimulation of one sense evokes an experience in another. From the film-maker’s statement on the piece:
In my sensory world, sounds are firmly linked to certain colors and forms, a phenomenon called synaesthesia. I have experienced my environment that way since my birth. Over the years, therefore, the idea arose to visualize this variation of perception and make it tangible for everyone to experience. Even as an adult, I still find myself astonished at the secrets of nature. The filigree cosmos of the microscopic, the nested laws of nature; here, the formation of swarms, the principle of emergence, is certainly one of the most fascinating phenomena we know. Especially, since we ourselves live the behavior of swarms, every day, regarding our dealings with one another, our communication, the formation of communities, as well as our division of tasks within society. The world is changing with increasing speed. Digitalization networks us, joins us, changes our communication, and sometimes lets us forget that we and our achievements continue to be an expression of the rules and principles of nature. In order to visualize precisely these laws, Structures of Nature was created. A synaesthetic journey through inner and outer worlds of experience. Thus, I have endeavored to complement the speech and music to be heard, and all the sounds, by commensurate film sequences which correspond to my own visual synaesthetic perception. Each cinematic composition simulates the basic geometry and the color and form of what is heard but also completes the subject of what is described.
The 18 minute length of Structures of Nature is another basic way the film departs from the usual briefer expectations in videopoetry, but Gerigk’s astonishing creative mastery makes the viewing time so worthwhile.
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Marie Craven is in Queensland, Australia, and a film-maker since 1984. Over the decades her short films have screened widely at international festivals and events, and gathered many awards. Since 2014 she has made over 70 videopoems, in collaboration via the net with poets, visual artists and musicians in different countries.
