ExperÂiÂmenÂtal direcÂtor and aniÂmaÂtor Paul Bush’s 2015 short film The Five-Minute MuseÂum, above, is the dizzyÂing antiÂdote to standÂing, footÂsore, in front of a vitÂrine crowdÂed with Ancient Greek amphoras or exquisÂiteÂly craftÂed pockÂet watchÂes and wonÂderÂing, not about hisÂtoÂry, culÂture or the nature of time, but whether you can jusÂtiÂfy spendÂing $15 for an underÂwhelmÂing cheese and tomaÂto sandÂwich in the museÂum cafe.
It’s a breakÂneck stop motion jourÂney through the hisÂtoÂry of civÂiÂlizaÂtion via six museÂum collections—three in LonÂdon and three in SwitzerÂland.
PreÂsentÂed priÂmarÂiÂly as stills that flash by at a rate of 24 per secÂond, Bush groups like objects togethÂer, “thereÂby allowÂing the triÂumphs of human endeavÂor to be seen even in far corÂners of the land, by the bedridÂden, the infirm and the lazy.”
His sense of humor asserts itself the minute an assortÂment of ancient shards appear to renÂder themÂselves into not just a state of wholeÂness, but an entire up close sociÂety in close-up. It doesn’t take long for these vesÂsels’ clashÂing of warÂriors to give way to a comÂposÂite porÂtrait of idle youth, whose flirÂtaÂtions are stoked by a numÂber of manÂic pipers in rapid sucÂcesÂsion, and Andy CowÂton’s origÂiÂnal music and sound design.
It’s a shock when Bush slows down and pulls back to show the source objects in their museÂum casÂes, quiÂet as a tomb, the sort of disÂplay most visÂiÂtors blow past en route to someÂthing sexÂiÂer, like a dinosaur or a blockÂbuster exhibÂit requirÂing timed entry tickÂets.
OthÂer highÂlights include a liveÂly assortÂments of guns, hats, chairs, and plasÂtic toys.
If you start feelÂing overÂwhelmed by the visuÂal intenÂsiÂty, don’t worÂry. Bush builds in a bit of a breather once you hit the clocks, the bulk of which preÂsumÂably hail from the BeyÂer Clock and Watch MuseÂum in Zurich.
The ingeÂnious aniÂmatÂed short was 10 years in the makÂing, a fact the artist modÂestÂly downÂplays:
It’s very simÂple. SimÂple stoÂry, a simÂple techÂnique and that’s what I like. PoetÂry should be a litÂtle bit stuÂpid. This is what Pushkin says, and I try and make my films a litÂtle bit stuÂpid as well.
In addiÂtion to the BeyÂer Clock and Watch MuseÂum, you’ll find the feaÂtured artiÂfacts housed in the British MuseÂum, the VicÂtoÂria and Albert MuseÂum, London’s MuseÂum of the Home (forÂmerÂly known as the GefÂfrye MuseÂum) as well as the Lucerne HisÂtorÂiÂcal MuseÂum and the Bern HisÂtorÂiÂcal MuseÂum.
Expect a much slowÂer expeÂriÂence.
via Aeon
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
A VirÂtuÂal Tour Inside the Hayao Miyazaki’s StuÂdio GhiÂbÂli MuseÂum
Watch Art on Ancient Greek VasÂes Come to Life with 21st CenÂtuÂry AniÂmaÂtion
Take a VirÂtuÂal Tour of 30 World-Class MuseÂums & SafeÂly VisÂit 2 MilÂlion Works of Fine Art
Ayun HalÂlÂiÂday is an author, illusÂtraÂtor, theÂater makÂer and Chief PriÂmaÂtolÂoÂgist of the East VilÂlage Inky zine. Help yourÂself to her free downÂloadÂable poster series, encourÂagÂing citÂiÂzens to wear masks. FolÂlow her @AyunHalliday.
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