Seth uses moving imagery to create environmental portraits. His practice focuses on the themes of social-politics, accessibility and the exploration of an audiovisual language. He is interested in the development of new media technologies as part of exploring hybrid videotexts. Previous projects include drama, documentaries and experimental videos with a more recent focus on developing web technologies that facilitate interactive online video production and distribution.
viewing video on this blog
online video test and experiments studio
interactive online video documentaries
2008-09 (work-in-progress) Locative Painting is both a cultural heritage and networked media project that explores the relationship between Eugene Von Guerard’s landscape paintings and the locations they documented in the Western District of Victoria. Locative Painting uses transdisplinary research to bring together art historians, media/design practitioners and community members. Networked Media technologies are utilised to explore new ways of presenting colonial heritage in relation to specific ‘place-based’ locations. These technologies include the development of a customised website using Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping and a portable media player prototype.
(Video frame, ‘Miguel Playing with Dog’, Videographer Daniel Perez, World Vision Columbia)
(2008-09) Bogota: Columbia is an industry research project undertaken in collaboration (credits) with the Digital Content Team of the international aid organisation World Vision Australia. This is a project that explores new ways of using online video to document aid programs. The project involved facilitating as part of my doctorial research the production of an interactive documentary prototype that documented a World Vision program for internally displaced people in Bogota, Colombia. Started in June 2008, the research partnership produced a working prototype that provided a framework for World Vision to independently build a published beta version as an integral part of the organisation’s new website, launched in May 2009. Online video was used to capture an authentic portrayal of the daily lives of people in this community and the many facets of a development aid program that assists them, with the aim of providing Australian supporters access to transparent information from multiple perspectives.
2008-09 Glasshouse Birdman (work-in-progress) Glasshouse Birdman is an experimental website that explores a form of interactive online documentary. A video portrait of Terry Dale a registered bird carer with Wildlife Volunteers Association (WILVOS) and Queensland Parks and Wildlife. This work was submitted successfully into a national Screen Based Production Review (triple-peer review) as part of the Australian Screen Production Education & Research Association (ASPERA) Conference 2008. The Glasshouse Birdman website also instigated a funded applied research project with the International Non-Government Organisation, World Vision Australia (WVA).
experimental video
‘videodefunct – pedestrian’ (vlog) collective Keith Deverell, Seth Keen, David Wolf, published online in curated selection, JavaMuseum art +blog = blogart, 2007
‘The Hazzard Diaries’, (interactive video) ‘Transformations’ electronic journal, ‘The Making Badlands Exhibition’ online artspace, 2006
‘The Hazzards’, (single-channel DVD) 16 min. triptych. Drift Video Works 5, Sydney Moving Image Coalition, UNSW, Selected Australia Centre for the Moving Image, Memory Grid Collection, Melbourne, 2005
‘sugartown’, (installation) single channel video 50 mins, audio loop, audio interviews, performance, Bundaberg Arts Centre, 2003
‘Nodal Dialectics 1.0’, (single-channel video), 2 min 42 sec, Electrofringe, video screening program, Newcastle, Oz Digital Shorts, curated by Peter Giles (AFTRS), Sydney Film Festival, 2005
‘boomsplatbangwhack’, (installation, single-channel DVD) 2 min. loop, National touring group exhibition (13 venues), WA, NSW, QLD including Queensland Museum, Brisbane, 2004-06
‘Sightless Vision’ (single-channel video), Experimental video, international competition, Screened dLux media arts – d>art01, Sydney Film Festival, 2001
Cinema
2001, ‘Honey’, Director, Co-Producer, (Melbourne, Auckland, Sydney) 12-minutes, 35mm short drama film funded by New Zealand Film Commission. Writer Christine Rogers, Script Advisor Andrew Bovell. Screened: NZ International Film Festival 2002, HOF Hamburg International Film Festival 2002, TV broadcast – TVNZ, TV3, Studio Universal Spain
1997-98, ‘The Love Letter’, Writer, Director, Producer, 16mm film. 5-minutes. Short drama film funded by N.Z. Arts Council. Screened International N.Z. Film Festival 1997, St. Kilda Film Festival
Television documentaries
1995-96, 'Godzone Sheep', Writer, Researcher, Director, Greenstone Pictures. 46 mins. A prime-time documentary on New Zealand art and craft interpretations of sheep. Broadcast TVNZ (Funding NZONAIR, TVNZ). 1994, ‘Live to Work’, Writer, Researcher, Director, Zee Films, 46 mins. A prime-time documentary on the Japanese work ethic in New Zealand. Production completed in Japan and N.Z. Broadcast TVNZ, (Funding NZONAIR, TVNZ). 1991-94, ‘First Hand Productions’, Producer, Documentary unit commissioned by TVNZ and NZONAIR. Responsible for producing primetime and half-hour documentaries for a series on everyday New Zealanders. Writer, Researcher, Camera, Editor, and Director on every production. ‘At Risk’, 46 mins. A 14-year old Polynesian teenager living on the streets. ‘Suzy,’ 46 mins. A prime-time documentary that examines orthodox and alternative cancer treatments. ‘The Two Minute Silence’, Half-hour documentary on the smallest N.Z. daily newspaper. ‘Surviving on the Benefit’, Half-hour documentary on a family totally dependent on welfare housing and benefits. ‘Gumboots and Tutus’, Half-hour documentary on performing arts competitions for children. ‘Out of Work’, Half-hour documentary on a middle class family facing redundancy. ‘Just to Back a Winner’, Half-hour documentary on a group of city TAB punters. Television factual programs 1999-00, SBS Television Researcher, Writer, Director, (Sydney) Fusions, 5-minute programs for a broadcast series on multicultural arts. ‘A Beautiful Life’, The story of an Iranian immigrant. Music video 1997 ‘Elevator’, Director, Producer, 16mm film, 4mins. Funded by N.Z. Arts Council, Pagan Records
View Godzone Sheep on NZ ON SCREEN online in sections.
‘Migamarra’, Didgeridoo – Shakuhachi’, bamboo flute duet.
‘Malkosh’, Indian raga based fusion group.
‘Migration Medley’, Richard Vella the composer.
‘Rinne Satsuki’, improvising on the Koto as part of the group Warratah.
