Abstractionism

Beyond Representation: Diving into Abstractionism on Film (and Why It Matters)

Okay, let’s talk about abstractionism – not just as it relates to painting and sculpture, but how it's trickled its way into film. The concept can feel a bit intimidating at first; we’re so accustomed to cinema being about something, right? A story, characters, a plot… But what happens when filmmakers decide to ditch that narrative tether and explore pure form, color, light, and movement? That's where abstractionism comes in.

At its heart, abstractionism is about moving away from recognizable representation. Think Kandinsky’s swirling compositions or Mondrian’s grid-like structures – they aren't depicting landscapes or portraits; they’re exploring the inherent qualities of the medium itself: line, shape, hue. And that same impulse has found a surprising home in cinema.

Swinging Light is a perfect example. It’s not “about” the Sun in a traditional documentary sense. Instead, it's an experience, a meditation on light and movement through incredibly inventive camerawork. The dizzying rotations, the distorted images… they evoke a feeling more than conveying information. It's less about understanding the sun scientifically and more about feeling its power – a pure aesthetic response. It reminds me a little of early experimental films from the 1920s, like Walter Ruttmann’s Light Play (Lichtspiel), which basically consisted entirely of light patterns projected onto film. Those were groundbreaking, pushing the boundaries of what cinema could even be.

Now, you might be thinking, "Okay, that sounds pretty weird." And it can be! But abstractionism isn't just about being deliberately obtuse. It’s often a way to tap into something primal and universal, bypassing the intellectual filters we usually apply when watching movies. The film on Jacob Kainen is fascinating because it shows how even an artist dedicated to representational art – painting portraits and landscapes— wrestled with these concepts of form and expression. He was, as they say, an "artist's artist," someone deeply committed to pushing the boundaries of his craft. It’s a poignant reminder that even when striving for realism, artists are always making choices about how to present their subject; those choices are inherently abstract ones.

While full-blown abstract films aren’t exactly mainstream (though I'd love to see more!), the influence of abstractionism can be felt throughout cinema history – from the dream sequences in Hitchcock’s work, utilizing distorted perspectives and symbolic imagery, to the vibrant color palettes employed by filmmakers like Wes Anderson. It’s a reminder that film isn’t just about telling stories; it's a powerful visual language with endless possibilities for exploration. So next time you’re looking for something different, give Swinging Light (or some other experimental work) a try – you might be surprised at what you discover.