In Flight Machine, a film loop wandering through the room is activated by the viewer pedaling a bicycle. To recognize the images, the viewer must find the right speed of the film. Here, the projector functions differently from a traditional film projector. The projector lacks the usual film clap transporting the film - a stroboscope lamp instead determines the time-bar. Accordingly to the flash frequency the cyclist must find the right velocity. Because the projector doesn't only screen a single frame, the viewer can also see the image before and after. Due to the different functions of the light and the movement of the viewer's body the perception of the image changes—the film shows the flying attempt of a bumble-bee. Because of its weight and shape its body is not made for flying.
Therefore, bumble-bees are learning to fly their whole life through - making countless attempts... until they finally manage to fly for a short-time period—before they die.
Flight Machine, 1999 16mm film, projector, bicycle Image: Installation view at Trinitatiskirche, Cologne, Germany, 1999 © Rosa Barba