This projected “painting” is a representation that is primarily a persona. Based on the classical Odalisque and images of his wife by the Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens, Machina consists of a series of animations that morph from painting to canonical painting. Arranged in random combinations on a time line, the resulting animation is sensual but without dramaturgy, evoking clockwork. Occasionally,Machina opens her eyes to gaze at the viewer, in a moment of transformation, allowing the object of our gaze to subject us to hers.

Claudia Hart, Machina
Dimensions:
framed screen: 15 x 23.5 x 3.5" / 38 x 60 x 9 cm / shelf: 3.5 x 16.8 x 9.6" / 9 x 42.5 x 24.4 cm
Description:
Video still, HD Quicktime video, 20 minute loop, silent. Image © Claudia Hart. Used here by kind permission from the artist. All rights reserved.
Created:
2008

Claudia Hart, Machina
Dimensions:
framed screen: 15 x 23.5 x 3.5" / 38 x 60 x 9 cm / shelf: 3.5 x 16.8 x 9.6" / 9 x 42.5 x 24.4 cm
Description:
Video object, 2004-2008. Quicktime video (2004), 720 x 1280 px, 20 minutes. Mac Mini Computer, 50 inch/127 cm Panasonic monitor. Custom frame: maple and African mahogany over aluminum infrastructure. 52-in.-W x 35-in.-H x 10-in.-D. Edition of 6. Image © Claudia Hart. Used here by kind permission from the artist. All rights reserved.
Created:
2008

Claudia Hart, Machina
Dimensions:
framed screen: 15 x 23.5 x 3.5" / 38 x 60 x 9 cm / shelf: 3.5 x 16.8 x 9.6" / 9 x 42.5 x 24.4 cm
Description:
Video object, 2004-2008. Quicktime video (2004), 720 x 1280 px, 20 minutes. Mac Mini Computer, 50 inch/127 cm Panasonic monitor. Custom frame: maple and African mahogany over aluminum infrastructure. 52-in.-W x 35-in.-H x 10-in.-D. Edition of 6. Image © Claudia Hart. Used here by kind permission from the artist. All rights reserved.
Created:
2008

Claudia Hart, Machina
Dimensions:
framed screen: 15 x 23.5 x 3.5" / 38 x 60 x 9 cm / shelf: 3.5 x 16.8 x 9.6" / 9 x 42.5 x 24.4 cm
Created:
2008
Claudia Hart
Machina
Machina is a 3D animation portraying the compressed time and space of a painting. Her slow, drowsy movements articulate all of the minutia of a single moment.
Claudia Hart graduated from New York University with a BA cum laude in art history in 1978, and then studied architecture at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture. She then practiced as an art and architecture critic. In 1985-86, she was Associate Editor of ID (then Industrial Design Magazine) where, along with Senior Editor Steven Skov Holt, she redeveloped it into its present form,...