Dr Carla Thackrah
doctoral research & thesis
music, sound & video portraits
Self-portrait #2: Multiple Heads:
Multiple Heads: Portrait of Elektra Collective Unconscious (2019)
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Stereo sound, 5 channel large format video
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A pentaptych (5 panel altarpiece) portrait of the music ensemble Elektra Collective Unconscious (ECU) and their relationship reflected via music and words.
The members are Jess Ciampa (far left panel) Carla Thackrah (next left) Rudi Crivici (far right panel) Romano Crivici (next right). The centre panel represents their collective relationship as it is mirrored in their words.
The work is based on early Renaissance alter pieces and the frame is from St Michael (1476) which is one panel of a Carlo Crivelli altarpiece in the National Gallery London. The central image is also from Crivelli's The Annunciation with Saint Emidius (1486).
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The sound has been created in post production by Carla Thackrah incorporating the voices and music of the Elektra Collective Unconscious (ECU).
Multiple Heads: Andy (2019)
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Stereo sound, single channel large format video
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A single panel portrait of Andy Rantzen
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The sound has been created in post production by Carla Thackrah incorporating the voice of Andy Rantzen and music of the Elektra Collective Unconscious (ECU) - Andy Rantzen, (beats & words); Carla Thackrah (vocals & flute); Romano Crivici (piano); Rudi Crivici (electric viola) and Jess Ciampa (percussion & vocals)
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The work is to be projected on a screen approx 2 meters high, life size or played on large LCD screen.
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The work would be shown as a continuous installation (looped) with either stereo sound or displayed with the music performed live by Elektra Collektive Unconscious (ECU).
Multiple Heads: You & Me (2019)
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Stereo sound, 3 channel large format video
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A triptych portrait of a relationship that is informed by Renaissance altarpieces in particular Carlo Crivelli (about 1430 -1494). The frame is the one surrounding Leonardo's Virgin of the Rocks (1492-9) in the National Gallery, London. An interior is shown in the central panel exhibiting deep perspective with portraits of individuals on the two external panels. This form is drawn from the traditional triptych altarpiece . The fragmenting of the human form is referencing post modern ideas of identity.
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The soundscape is created in post-production from recorded conversations between You and Me and an improvisation performed by Me - Carla Thackrah (vocals & flute), You - Romano Crivici (piano), Rudi Crivici (electric viola); Jess Ciampa (percussion & vocals): The Elektra Collektive Unconscous (ECU)
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The work is to be projected on a screen approx 2 meters high, life size or on 3 LCD screens.
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This iteration shows the works as they would be displayed, synchronised to the same sound.
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The work would be shown as a continuous installation (looped) with either stereo sound or displayed with the music performed live by Elektra Collektive Unconscious (ECU).
Ghent Alterpiece - Jan van Eycke (1432)
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Demidoff Alterpiece - Carlo Crivelli (1476)
Multiple Heads: Self-portrait #4 (2018)
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Single channel video stereo sound
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Self-portrait with Renaissance paintings and frames filmed in the National gallery London, as background. The paintings are largely of the lush fabrics in Renaissance womens' dress.
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These two portraits to be displayed together with the sound merging and played separately through headphones.
Multiple Heads: Rom (2019)
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Single channel video stereo sound
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A portrait of Rom informed by Carlo Crivelli, one of his favourite Renaissance artists. In it we see the foot of St Sebastian from The Virgin with St Francis and St Sebastian (1491) and The Annunciation with St Emidius (1486). Sound by Carla Thackrah played by Elektra String Quartet and Elektra Collective Unconscious (ECU)
Multiple Heads: Adam & Eve (2018- 2019)
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Stereo sound, 2 channel large format video
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A diptych portrait inspired by Lucas Cranach the Elder's portraits of Adam and Eve (1528) in the Uffizi Gallery Florence. Cranach, in painting this, was inspired by an earlier painting by Albrecht Durer of Adam and Eve (1507) which is considered the first depiction of the full length naked body.
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I visited Florence in September 2018 and was struck by the two paintings and their relevance to the work I'm undertaking. I see these as representing the birth of individual human identity - an idea of self-hood with free will, separate to God. These ideas flowered in the Renaissance, embodied by Descartes writing.
Sound is an improvisation based around the theme of the birth of identity performed by Carla Thackrah (vocals & flute), Romano Crivici (piano), Rudi Crivici (electric viola)
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The work is to be projected on a screen of similar size to the original paintings. Both Durer's and Cranach's paintings are life size.
The original was painted in 1528
Oil on panel
Dimensions172 cm × 124 cm (68 in × 49 in)
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To be shown as a continuous installation (looped)
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Albrecht Durer - Adam & Eve (1507) Oil. Prado Museum, Madrid
Cranach the Elder - Adam & Eve (1528) Oil on panel
Development
Self Portrait 2 (2015)
Self Portrait 2
This 2nd version of my self portrait is designed to be projected high resolution on a large screen between 1 - 2 metres high.
In both versions, the images draw on influences from the great Renaissance artist - and one of the first european creators of self portraits - Albrecht Durer and his Self Portrait at 28 (1500)...the signature, the colouring; the use of CHIROSCURO lighting, lit from one side; and the pose, particularly the hand in its position over the heart, ready to have a flute placed in its grip.
From Vermeer's The Girl with the Pearl Earing, I appropriated the eyes, the earing and the mouth in close up.
From REMBRANDT Portrait of Baartgen Marten Doomer, again the lighting, clothes, cropping and expression all informed my self portrait.
HOLBIEN The Ambassadors: objects – my flute.
In classic 16th century style, an aspect of my personality is conveyed via the flute in my hand – as a symbol or object of skill and interest.
Self Portrait 2: Fragments of a Face
2nd Semester, 2015
Choose Full Screen and HD for best view
This self portrait is designed to be projected high resolution on a large screen between 1 - 2 metres high.
The sound is intimate - my in-breathe before I release it as my out-breathe to resonate and elicit sound from a flute, and from my vocal chords. The sound is nothing but that.
Question - what fragments are needed to create a satisfying portrait - just a mouth, only an eye, a hand...? Split them, re-organise them and it remains a satisfying portrait. The sound portrait acts to unify and intensify the experience.
Picasso's Portrait of Dora Maar...
