Match-Made Men

Judged by even their contemporaries as “the outsiders of avant-garde” Stefan and Franciszka Themerson were one of the first experimental/independent moviemakers in Poland. Implementing moving photograms as a new medium, the couple produced the movie “Europe” (1931-1932) illustrating the poem of the same title by Anthony Stern which criticizes the conditions of the era in a series of images. The original movie itself, can be considered as an intermediary art project crossing borders between poetry and cinema. However, due to the fact that the film did not survive the second world war, not much is known about it; except for some descriptions and single-storyboards.

Although futuristic in style, Stern's poetry stands against the ideals of futurism. He impugns upon the human condition in an accelerated life, the relations between man and machines/technology, as well as the lack of continuity between the past and the future. Written almost a century ago, the political themes Stern reflects upon are still relevant and debated in contemporary Europe.

My initial aim with “Match-Made Men” is to produce an experimental movie/video art project based on the “extinct” movie “Europe,” through use editing and post production of films, slides and photographs that I have been collecting over the years. Also I will be collecting materials through this blog I have already opened, where you can upload pictures, videos and sounds, which later will be used randomly. To share your materials please send a link to the e-mail: matchmademan@gmail.com, you will be asked to sign a statement about copyrights, then the content will be posted on the blog Match Made Man. If your material will be chosen during the further selection, than it will be included in the movie Match Made Man.

The concept of “remake” to me, is not just to reproduce the film but also to make use of materials that have been devalued or discarded by others, in order to tell a non linear story where images and sounds are connected with multiple meanings.