Photography & the Projected Image

Alexander Synopsis

by Helen Lee

In her presentation, "Slideshow: Photography and the Projected Image," Darsie Alexander focused on the different uses of slide works between the past and the present in conceptual and performance art.

According to Alexander, the history of slide projection begins in 1849.  In those days, slide projection was used for presenting images publicly.  Showing projected images in public was an affordable transformation of private space to public space. However, many young artists also used slide projection as a means of artistic production in the 1960s. It was no longer for just displaying photographically based images in public space and it became better known to the public in the 1970s. For artists then, slide projection was a good opportunity to extend their artistic aspects of time, scale, and space.  They put more of an effort into combining the projected images and sounds. The projected images were used for telling a storyline by creating a cinematic and nostalgic situation. At the same time, artists played with what the viewer expected by using various kinds of metaphors.  The artists from those days used transparent slide works to show multiple emotion. Also, they manipulated space by magnifying or decreasing the scale of the image. Sometimes, they encouraged viewers to interact with their actual art works.

Finally, Darsie Alexander mentioned that today, more images are being produced by slide projection because people value high production. The projected image, which is based on photography, is one method of making well-produced art because of its unique visual format.