Description

The following three videos comprise a series dealing with futility, complexity, ritualized trying, and Sisyphus.

Snow (TRT 1'29'') is a video performance by Richard Jochum, New York 2007. "One must imagine Sisyphus happy" (A. Camus); even more so in winter wonderland where the rolling stones consist of snow. Although one sees a large ball increase in size where a product seems to result from the labor, the ball will melt raising questions about the futility and complexity of the trial. Jochum builds what will only melt.

Desert (TRT 1'30'') is a video performance by Richard Jochum, El Fayoum/New York 2007. Jochum is walking in the desert in sunny peace. Although the feet are continuously moving there is no discernible advancement. Jochum seems to be simultaneously walking nowhere and everywhere.

Water (1'31'', eventually a loop) is a video project by Richard Jochum, El Fayoum/New York 2007. A boat is being rowed and rowed with little progress. What starts out meditative becomes quite disconcerting to experience where rowing does not enable you to move.

The meditative quality of the three actions is hypnotic. The endlessness of the repetition and the lack of a tangible outcome, however, introduce a subtle anxiety. Making does not make anything that lasts and moving keeps you standing still. Rather, it is in the making and moving that the three short movies celebrate time in its stillness.