Prima Materia

A “Fat Blossom Films” FILM
WRITTEN BY Genevieve McClean

When a brilliant young artist sets about garnering interest and funding for his nude installation photography in the New Zealand landscape, he has every idea what kind of monster he is creating… …but no idea how big the monster will be.
When the funding comes through, the promotions go out and the media is buzzing with this crazy stunt. “Come and be a Part of the Art,” read the bulletins. Thanks to product placement opportunities, clever production alliances and Tourism New Zealand coming on board, the news spreads fast. “It’s a critical mass thing… “ On the day, everything seems to be going well, as busloads of participants arrive and prepare to build a large nude sculpture in an isolated location. An underwear designer is on the team promoting his goods, and there’s also an undercover providing audio surveillance for the public good. The media are there too, as well as the ‘making of’ camera crew borrowed from the film industry and the make up team are assisting with wardrobe.
“Emergence”! -The artist’s catch phrase, and lying on the grass… “I can’t go on, I’ve blown my mind… “ Just as the the tourism board helicopter turns up to get their aerial shots. “Pasolini!” “No, - Not Pasolini!” The Producer is pretty efficient with a walkie-talkie & her cred is on the line. No one is sure any longer where the fulcrum of control lies and the struggle for sense ensues through the night, as it becomes apparent that the landscape is more than just a backdrop, media technology more than just communication and the work itself a lot more than just the sum of its parts…