Ben Holmes

Where we meet (2010)

6 min 1 secSingle channel / Digital Video / Colour / Sound

The video begins with strobing blocks of colour and the sound of metal being struck violently in a reverberent space. Cut to a street scene shot from the interior of a car at night. The car drives the edge of an urban wasteland. Light classical music plays in the background. The industrial scenes are replaced by abstract images of video feedback, and still shots on a computer, over which a mouse pointer hovers. On the voiceover an indistinct murky voice speaks - “There will be a meeting point that we work out…” and later, “Do you hear this sound?” followed by a chiming percussive hit. On the soundtrack we hear a persistent uneasy low tone and intermittent bursts of noise.

Part of a series of instructional videos made between 2005-2010 that were sent out with different accessories as part of a mail-based participation game. Their premise was to show participants how to perform different tasks and how to take part in a covert communication system through the use of various collusive actions, markings and signals. Initially they also incorporated a points and prizes system.

Other works in this series

CIRCUIT is the
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practice
in Aotearoa New Zealand,
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critical review and
dialogues
which reflect our unique, contemporary
South Pacific context.