'The Rules of Engagement' images/early ideas for new work

These images were captured during the production of the video piece The Rules of Engagement (2006), working with my grandfather at the Waygood Gallery and Studios in Newcastle upon Tyne. I love the concentration, focus and the feeling of strength that the images convey. The experience of working with my grandfather to make the piece was amazing - his total commitment to the performance and the art was really inspiring.

Early ideas/starting points for work

I particularly like the level of detail in the skin, which is missing in the video work. I hope to pick up on this a bit more on the new work I am about to begin using HD to shoot. I also hope to be able to emphasise the precision of the movement and the focus and the concentration using slow motion cameras.

I am interested in exploring the use of a fragmented image, focusing the camera on specific parts of our bodies - two rooms - as they move, reflecting one another - providing the viewer with snippets of visual information - inviting them to fill in the gaps - the closure principle. I am also interested in exploring after image, ghosts (phantoms), distorted reflections, creating Rorschach-esque patterns with our divided bodies.

Memory Portrait

After a busy year working on the Mutations project I feel able to think about new work. During the project I began working with movement, which has opened up new ways of considering the body. With this new focus I want to go re-visit a work I completed several years ago working with my Grandfather, who at 79 is a practicing 3rd Dan, Black Belt in Karate. The work entitled The Rules of Engagement (see below) created a portrait, not only of the individual and the actions but of memory The work, filmed from a static camera documented 11 Wadō-ryū style katas - fighting dances with an invisible opponent.

The practice of the kata and Karate can be viewed as a strive for perfection, for a harmony of body and mind, the attainment of which can only be achieved through repetition. Repetition encodes the action in the body and muscle, making it reflex, making it instinct.

I am interested in exploring proprioception and kinesthetics, the memory of my body, muscle and genes. I am going to work with my Grandfather again, we share genes, will this effect the way we work together? I have asked him to teach me to perform kata. I will attempt to learn from observation, mirroring his actions, perhaps we will have to re-think? I will be attempting to run before I can walk, obviously.

The Rules of Engagement (2006) from Paul Grimmer on Vimeo.