Educational Media Reviews Online

Video art pieces by a group of young European artists are showcased in this collection, selected by the curator of the Neue Galerie museum in Graz, Austria. Ranging in length from a few seconds to around 20 minutes, the 27 works in this 2-disc set were created between 1994 and 2008, and display an interesting variety of new media techniques. Going beyond simply using film to record images and capture performance, the pieces in this anthology integrate the medium into the message and make video technology a key feature of the finished works.

Beginning with Gehfilmen 6 and ending with Memory, the subject matter and techniques used in each of the selections are different. Some, such as Heim by Claudia Larcher, combine interesting camera, sound, and editing techniques to create a slim narrative, while others, like Veranda by Klaus Schuster, allow the camera to remain stationary to reflect other images, motions and sounds. While a few of the pieces are jarringly avant-garde in theme or technique, others are almost commercial in the use of color, music, and animation. Although the pieces are dissimilar one from the next, they all display a fascinating creativity not only in choice of topic but also in the use of video. Each of the standalone works can be appreciated as successful examples of new media art. Recommended, especially for students of digital technology and culture.