Oliver Schwabe (GER)
Verstärker/Intensifier
1998
three DVDs, 380 x 270 cm video projection, stereo sound, two monitors facing upwards
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Variations on the theme of resistance to the real seem to be brought to a head in Oliver Schwabe´s work Verstärker/Intensifier. The distorted, black and white close-up of the face of a man trying to withstand the violent currents in a wind tunnel is enclosed in a monitor lying on the floor, facing upwards. Next to it, a second monitor exposes another male face being flung around in a centrifugal force machine, receiving instructions through a crackling loudspeaker; “One, two, three – BREATHE! One, two, three – BREATHE! – Now relax”.
Directly across from the two screens, completing a square of images, is a large, black and white, grainy projection of a swimmer in a test basin, making regular, long breaststrokes just beneath the surface of the water. The viewpoint of this image is underwater, or rather as if in front of an aquarium. A black row of tiles lines the basin, in front of which the man makes his forceful strokes, although he does not seem to be advancing at all. He stays hovering at the same spot, deadlocked despite his great physical effort. The water in the basin gently curves into waves on the surface, indicating an opposing current that evens out all forces. Deep frequencies in the noise pouring out of the speakers physically reinforce the feeling of being submerged.
Strangely enough, the hermetically closed space does not only enclose. The repetitive attempts of the swimmer are almost freeing, perhaps because of the hovering state, perhaps because of the contrast with the two faces encapsulated in their small screens – anything is better than finding yourself in their position. Moreover, the swimmer seems to be in control of his situation, seemingly choosing to go against the current, maybe not in an attempt to surpass it, but just for the sake of defying it.
Biography
Oliver Schwabe ( Germany, 1966) works as a photographer, film director and video artist. After completing his studies in photography, he went on to study at the Academy of Media Arts, Department of Arts and Media in Cologne (GER). His installations and films have been shown in numerous exhibitions, festivals and art fairs. Since 1998, he publishes video diaries for the German television station NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk). In 1999, he presented his video installation Verstärker at the ICC in Tokyo (JPN). As director of photography, he contributed to the short film Freunde/The Whiz Kids, winning the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival (ITA). Also in the same year, Schwabe was awarded the Spiridon-Neven-DuMont-Preis, Cologne (GER). Oliver Schwabe lives and works in Cologne, Germany.