"My Collected Silences" is a video version of Heindrich Boll’s "Murke’s Collected Silences," a story about a radio technician who collects bits of audio tapes containing interview pauses/silences from radio programs. Gaining access to all the raw material that comes into the newsroom as an editor, Solomons collects the silent seconds before, after, or in-between sentences of news interviewees. Those people whom we, as spectators, are used to see speaking on television screens, are now seen silent, waiting; bored by the expectation and impatient. These "silences," however are not silent. As the gallery of "talking heads" progresses before us, we become increasingly aware of the sound in the background, of each breath – what in film and television is called "room tone." Just like Dr. Murke, and in the spirit of John Cage’s musical theory – Solomons realized that silences are not devoid of sound or character. Rather, these "silences" inevitably sharpen our attention and perception. (Sergio Eidelsztein)
Catalogue No. 468
File: The Archive
The CDA's archives are operating with the support of the Ostrovsky Family Fund and Artis
