Video: "Civilization"

Posted by Xeni Jardin, June 19, 2009 6:26 AM |

Civilization by Marco Brambilla from CRUSH on Vimeo.


Above: "Civilization," a video installation by artist/director Marco Brambilla for the elevators in the Standard Hotel in NYC.
It's comprised of over 400 video clips and it takes elevator passengers on a trip from hell to heaven as they go up or from heaven to hell as they go down. Pictures of the installation and Q&A with Brambilla and Crush are posted here.
(Thanks, Richard Metzger!)
posted in: Art ,  Video
Favorite This! (3)
Send this to a Friend
Older Jantar Mantar
Newer Videos of People In Trance States

Discussion

Report this comment
#1 posted by phind a city, June 19, 2009 6:33 AM

I saw this over at http://drawnbymouse.com/?p=200
Sooooo beautiful!

Report this comment
#2 posted by hokano, June 19, 2009 7:07 AM

Hey! The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man!

Well I'll be eternally damned!

Report this comment
#3 posted by Takuan, June 19, 2009 7:27 AM

sorry, but there is no way in Hades the engine room of the Magic Christian belongs in Hell. Nor is Micheal Jackson ever making it to heaven.

Report this comment
#4 posted by 3.14chan, June 19, 2009 8:04 AM

Seems like Schwarzenegger was elected as Heaven's Governor

Report this comment
#5 posted by Mojave, June 19, 2009 8:08 AM

I bet this thing would look AMAZING on a huge flat screen. Seems like it would be much better viewed on something like that, than on what oculd fit into an elevator.

Report this comment
#6 posted by Brainspore, June 19, 2009 8:18 AM

Pretty neat! Though I'm kind of curious how Arnold seems to be inhabiting heaven and hell simultaneously.

Did Brambilla actually manage to get permission to use all those video clips or does this fall under "fair use" somehow?

Report this comment
#7 posted by nutmegballs, June 19, 2009 8:19 AM

What Bosch might have done with video editing software...

Report this comment
#8 posted by alcoholiday, June 19, 2009 8:26 AM

Gee - it all seemed kind of hellish to me.

I think it's a combination of the music and that everyone is stuck in a repeating role.

That said, looked awesome!

Report this comment
#9 posted by alphabomb, June 19, 2009 9:50 AM

@#6 ^Bump

I'd like to know about permission/fair use in this work - *PLEASE* consider interviewing him for an episode of BBTV.

Report this comment
#10 posted by subliminati, June 19, 2009 11:05 AM

Excuse me while I scoop my brains up off the floor.

Report this comment
#11 posted by Takuan, June 19, 2009 11:09 AM

oh! is that what that was, sorry, here. (don't worry about the manky bits, it'll brush right off)

Report this comment
#12 posted by Johnny Cat, June 19, 2009 11:11 AM

It's like I Spy. I was staring at this last night looking at it all. ET made it to Heaven! Air Force One buzzes Mt. Rushmore and Christ! Death Star II! etc.

Report this comment
#13 posted by 3.14chan, June 19, 2009 1:16 PM

Brainspore, in Judaic-Chistian-Islamic tradition God is omnipresent, this means that he is everywhere and if he is everywhere them he is in Hell too (souls in Hell wouldn't need God more than in Heaven?)

Report this comment
#14 posted by duncan, June 19, 2009 1:58 PM

I like the idea that i would be rowing naked in a slave boat when i am in heaven if i were a woman, but since i am a man, i pretty sure, i would do the watching instead of rowing.

Report this comment
#15 posted by Takuan, June 19, 2009 2:10 PM

you ,miss the point Duncan, the important thing is you get to be flogged by Raquel Welch in a leather bikini.

Report this comment
#16 posted by Takuan, June 19, 2009 2:18 PM

"over 400 video clips", OK: one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaLMsZU6NaY

let the scavenger hunt begin.

Report this comment
#17 posted by Anonymous, June 19, 2009 2:23 PM

this would look abslolutly fantastic as a screen saver.

Report this comment
#21 posted by Mantissa128, June 19, 2009 7:48 PM

At 1:00 there is a bridge across the middle of the screen - the men in red are from Norman McLaren's Canon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRXNcrGkr4Y

Starts at 4:16.

Also - at 1:27 at center screen, the flying diamonds are from Superman II!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZlm1Ny3Cbw

2:10 for best dramatic effect.

Report this comment
#22 posted by Takuan, June 19, 2009 7:57 PM

good! that's 5 and 6!

Report this comment
#26 posted by Anonymous, June 20, 2009 10:00 AM

Imaging stumbling back to your hotel drunk, hopping in the elevator and seeing this.

Oy.

Report this comment
#29 posted by Anonymous, June 20, 2009 11:09 PM

In the Civilization video, entering at the top of the screen at 1:25 is a little woman gyrating up and down. That is Rosario Dawson singing "Out Tonight" in the film adaptation of "Rent" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPRMvwYYyW4

Report this comment
#31 posted by Anonymous, June 22, 2009 9:05 AM

Not what you want to see while you ride to the top floor with your hooker.

Report this comment
#32 posted by Anonymous, July 28, 2009 12:56 AM

cool video but where is the good old fashion elevator music lol.

Leave a comment

Name:
Anonymous