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Davis Vale / Picturehouse Central

Davis Vale / Picturehouse Central

Paul Davis & Patrick Vale were asked to design and execute a 50m x 4m mural for the new Picturehouse Central Cinema in Piccadilly, London.

The brief was to 'include something about cinema' in the content so Davis & Vale decided that no stars, no film names, no film quotes (apart from one) would be used. Instead, the mural uses a 'time line' loosely based on a film spool - an interlock that old projection rooms would deal with - and describes the passage of time from the invention of light at the beginning of the universe, through Aristotle's ideas about the after image to the mechanics of film, engineering, the pioneers and inventors; the background staff, builders, sparks,people who are essential to the making of movies.

The line weaves and dances its way through time over the walls to end at our contemporary digital age. Vale drew these objects and Davis added people discussing film, the slang folk use, fantasy statements from producers and movie-goers. It's not just about the end product involving highly paid actors and directors as they flounce along the red carpet wearing $10,000 dresses that always look a bit rubbish. There's so much else to consider and so many others largely ignored.

Photography by Davy Jones. davyjonesfoto@hotmail.com