14 Video Paintings - Brian Eno (2005)

14 Video Paintings is comprised of two separate works ("Mistaken Memories of Mediaeval Manhattan" and "Thursday Afternoon") created in the early ‘80s by Brian Eno for art gallery exhibition only. Available for the first time on DVD, viewers are presented with a series of slowly evolving "video paintings," with "Thursday Afternoon" focusing on the human figure and "Mistaken Memories" on the Manhattan skyline. The music for "Thursday Afternoon" is a different version than what appears on Eno’s album of the same name, while the music that accompanies "Mistaken Memories" comes from two of his acclaimed ambient albums (On Land and Music For Airports) and features an unreleased track.

Eno is a bit of a screwball

Well, here he is. Brian Eno. I'm glad to see that this stuff made it to the DVD format as I have both videos on VHS. However, I'm not planning on buying the video in the new format. Once I turned my TV on its side to watch a video and the television had to be degaused. Pretty funny, Eno. Nice one. If you have a television you can spare, I would highly recommend forever leaving it on its side to view the video properly. Of course that adds to the cost of the piece. Or perhaps you could have surgery to make yourself sideways turned permanently. I enjoy Eno's silliness those days I have tolerance for it. December 1, 2007

Relaxing

Video, in this release, is like a form of painting with light. Images shift slightly and slowly, then fade in and out. The images themselves are very carefully selected-- in "Mistaken Memories" they are shots of the skyline of New York, often with the sky figuring prominently, and, especially, clouds. "Thursday Afternoon" showcases the body and face of a woman, in different postures and poses.

It is interesting that the music, especially in "Mistaken Memories", was not created for the video exclusively, but appeared in "Music For Airports" and "On Land", with, I believe, one previously unreleased piece. As a result, though relaxing, I wondered from time to time what the swamp and bog sounds had to do with the shots of New York. But the power of the shots themselves and the quality of the music, though somewhat disparate, won out in the end.

This project is great for sitting back, and focusing on the things in life that change more slowly over time. March 23, 2007

Do not buy it

Unless you are a fan of Brian Eno. The videos are way too dark in color and nothing you couldn't do with your DV camera. If you buy it you will take a look at it and put it for sale again or leaving it aside collecting dust. February 28, 2007

Thursday Afternoon DVD

I have loved Eno's CD Thursday Afternoon ever since it came out and now finally I have the DVD of the "installation". It is fantastic. The piece "Thursday" is simply spectacular by itself, consisting of lone notes that seemingly randomly occur for over 60 minutes and which create a unique soundscape. The images he has created to accompany them which slowly fade are simly breat-taking. Hughly recommended. Beautiful. December 24, 2006

This is a MUST

I am ipressed by the simple purity of these pieces.
They do convince through their clyrity and beauty!
No compromise to mainstraem taste, just pure lust of observing and pining down the essence of emotional excitment! wonderful!! March 17, 2006

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