CGI

ARTICLE: BENJAMIN FREEDMAN’S SPECTRAL GEOGRAPHIES

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In his seminal essay, “The spectral geographies of W.G. Sebald” (2007), John Wylie explores the ways in which the German writer W.G. Sebald evokes the uncanny and spectral dimensions of place in his literary works. According to Wylie, Sebald’s writing reflects a deep engagement with the power of place to evoke haunting memories and uncanny sensations. He notes how Sebald’s writing often portrays places as repositories of past traumas and histories that resist simple representation or understanding. Through his use of images, anecdotes, and digressions, Sebald creates a sense of place that is deeply layered and enigmatic, inviting readers to reflect on the ways in which place shapes our perceptions and memories.

The fascinating notion of spectral geographies returns in an eponymous series by Benjamin Freedman which was acquired by the prestigious GESTE Collection in February 2023. Spectral Geographies is a mesmerizing exploration of the urban palimpsest that is Jongno, Seoul, through the use of cutting-edge LiDAR technology. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and create 3D representations of objects and environments…

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Matteo Bittanti

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ARTICLE: A CLOSER LOOK AT BENJAMIN FREEDLAND’S JAKE

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Benjamin Freedman employs sculpture, video, and photography to craft his lens-based creations. His artwork often requires him to delve deeply into intricate histories, conducting extensive research and employing a nearly forensic approach to analysis. Fascinated by photographic research as a type of pseudo-archaeology or meta-ethnography, Freedman frequently uses reinterpretation and disruption in his works to reveal restorative discoveries. As he explores the relative truths and deceptions inherent to the medium of photography, Freedman deliberately incorporates visual vocabularies from genres like video games, science fiction, and horror to produce expansive documentary projects.

Moreover, the use of digital technologies to fabricate false memories and to populate virtual spaces with the weight of recent history is a common thread running through Jake and Freedman’s latest projects, such as Bad Work (2022) and Home in the Valley (2022). While there is a playful quality to the use of digital technologies in these projects, it does not always evoke a sense of joy or amusement. For instance, in Bad Work, the simulated environment captures the unsettling and eerie ambiance of an office festooned for a holiday party, yet conspicuously absent of human presence. Freedman created a series of “photographs” using CGI which depict wine glasses on documents, thrown darts lodged in the ceiling, and abandoned heels under desks, collectively imply a boisterous and spirited occasion that subverts the oppressive ambiance of the workplace… 

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Matteo Bittanti

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EVENT: JAKE COURI (FEBRUARY 10 - 23 2023, ONLINE)

A PRECARIOUS NIGHT AT PLUMB POINT

Digital video (2160 × 3840), sound, color, 24’ 04”, 2023, United States

Created by Jake Couri

A Precarious Night at Plumb Point finds our lead character positioned at sea, guided by the innate voyeurism hard coded into the world of gaming. Possessed by an internal dialogue, the viewer is presented with an assemblage-like simulation indicative of first-person exploration games, survival adventures, and cinematic trailers. Structurally based on the tragic fate of the first cruise ship intended for pleasure voyages, the SS Prinzessin Victoria Luise reached its unexpected demise the night of December 16th, 1906, after crash landing at Plumb Point Lighthouse. We follow our lead character aboard a modern-day cruise ship as he traverses through a series of environments led by the result of his perceived reality.

Jake Couri’s practice leverages digital space, employing computer-generated characters, environments, and conditions for the viewer to navigate. The artist examines the relationship between digital and physical reality, leaning on the possibility of making sense of the human condition through CGI avatars, cinematic effects, and theatrical sound composition. After completing a BFA in Fine Arts from Syracuse University, Jake Couri moved to San Francisco, where he received his MFA in Fine Arts with honors at California College of the Arts. His work has been shown at Superposition Gallery in Los Angeles, California (2019), Public Records in Brooklyn, New York (2020), and 4Culture in Seattle, Washington State (2021). He completed an artist residency at Anderson Ranch in Snowmass Village, Colorado (2019). He currently lives and works in New York City.

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