scenes from a private life
a film that is many films
This immersive installation was presented for two evenings in Brooklyn, New York at the Five Myles Gallery, Dec 18 and 19, 2024 before going on tour to places yet known. Scenes from a Private Life is a sprawling cinematic diary spanning 25 years, meticulously crafted into a collection of 100 short films and one feature length narrative not presented here. In this immersive installation, artist Marc Lafia, an early net artist, presents his early computations and permutations and many short films from his family's life, from mundane daily rituals to breathtaking travels. Inspired by Balzac's La Comédie Humaine: Scènes de la vie privée, the films play across 14 screens simultaneously, spatializing time, inviting viewers into a kaleidoscopic image of memory.
A dark room with a large projection screen showing black-and-white photos of people. There's a woman in a red plaid shirt standing near the screen, illuminated by blue light. The room appears to be set up for a presentation or art installation, with small tables, chairs, and electronic equipment scattered around.
Dark room with several large screens on the far wall displaying colorful images. Silhouettes of people in the foreground observing the screens, with some talking and a few highlighted by faint lighting.
People watching a presentation or movie in a dark room, with some individuals standing and others sitting, illuminated by a projector displaying an image on the wall.
People watching a projected video in a dimly lit room, with a person in the foreground wearing yellow headphones, and some furniture and objects on tables.
Dark indoor space with projected images on large white curtains and small groups of people standing and sitting, viewing the projections.
People standing in a dark room with blue lighting and projection screens, some wearing headphones.
A dark room with three people standing and watching a projection on a wall. The projection displays an image of a woman lying down, talking on a phone. The setup suggests an art exhibit or multimedia presentation.
Dimly lit indoor scene with a person standing near a table that has bottles on it, and a screen or projector displaying a colorful image in the background.
People watching a projection of a woman on a curtain in a dark room.
People standing in a dark room with some overhead lights and a projection on the wall. Several individuals are wearing headphones and some are operating computer equipment.
Dark room with a projection on a wall showing children, including a girl in a red top and a boy in a striped shirt, engaging in an activity. There are faintly visible curtains and some furniture underneath the projection.
Dark room or theater with a projection screen showing two people in a kitchen and a dog, with some theater or multimedia equipment around.
A dark room with a projection on the wall showing children and adults. Several projectors are visible on tables, and people are seated with their backs to the camera.
Dark room with multiple screens displaying children and teenagers, some studying or working together, and a blue projection hanging from the ceiling with circular cutouts.
A dark room with multiple screens projecting images of children, with some equipment and people sitting and observing in the foreground.
A projection on a dark wall showing a scene of a young girl sleeping on her bed with a patterned bedspread and a headboard with red floral wallpaper, alongside a woman sitting at a table in a room with patterned wallpaper, with both scenes appearing to be part of a film or slideshow.
A woman wearing yellow headphones looking at a computer screen with a young boy in front of her. The background is dark with blue circular lights.
A room with multiple screens displaying nature scenes and people, and a woman sitting on a chair in front of a microphone while another woman stands nearby with her hand on her face.
Two children wearing headphones facing a screen displaying a video game or digital content. The room is dark, and the children are seated at a table with some electronic devices and accessories around them.
Dark room with a projection showing a person lying on a bed, with books and a wallpaper pattern visible in the background. There are people standing and observing the projection, reflected on a shiny surface.
People wearing headphones observing an illuminated digital display or projection on the wall in a dark room.
A dark room with people sitting at computer stations, each wearing headphones, and screens displaying various images.
A dark indoor space with a large screen or projection displaying what appears to be a space scene or astronaut. In front, there are chairs and a table, with a person standing near the wall on the left side of the image.
Silhouettes of people sitting in a dark room watching a projection of a woman smiling in a bright kitchen.
A dark room with a projection of multiple images on a wall, including portraits of women, a person playing a piano, and scenes of people in various settings. There are chairs and electronic equipment in the foreground.
Dark room with hanging sheer curtains and colorful projected images, featuring a man and woman sitting at a table, with some equipment hanging from the ceiling.
A dark room with multiple large screens on the walls displaying various images, including people, a waterfall, and a boat on a river. There are some boxes and equipment on the floor, including a projector and laptop.
A dark room with multiple projected images on the walls showing various people, including a smiling woman at the beach, a woman with a music microphone, and two women in a kitchen. There are small tables with electronic devices and cables on the floor.
A dark room with multiple screens and electronic equipment, including a microscope, with some screens showing green data and a large transparent screen reflecting a person working in the background.
A dark room with multiple screens projecting images of children, some smiling and some with neutral expressions. The projections are on the walls and on hanging sheets, creating an immersive multimedia display.
A mural or poster with a nature scene featuring trees and sunlight, partially covered by a transparent blue sheet or plastic.
A dimly lit room with a large screen displaying a man with blond hair wearing a striped shirt. In front, a shirtless person with a drum and drumsticks is visible, and there is some musical equipment around.
A dark room with a television screen showing black and white images of a man with glasses, a woman, and a child. There is a small white table with a red object on it, and various objects on a darker table or shelf. The room appears dimly lit.
Projection of children, a teddy bear, and a scenic background on a dark wall, with a projector on a small table below.
A blue fabric surface with a black circular object and white electrical wires attached; the surface appears to be illuminated from behind, creating shadows and highlights.
People standing and watching a presentation or exhibit featuring black and white and color photographs projected onto a wall in a dark room.