Krišs Salmanis

2015 Kamiyama Artist in Residence participant
 

Krišs Salmanis uses animation, video, photography, objects as well as his body, trees etc in his art. However, it is neither the media used, nor the unifying themes, but rather the employed method what characterizes his work.

What in Salmanis’ work can be perceived as irony or humour, is instead mental exercise, wit as a twist of thought. Another important aspect is formulated best by Kurt Vonnegut’s idea of the complicated futility. The making of Salmanis’ work is often seemingly unnecessarily time- and effort-consuming. It is a kind of self-invented craftsmanship, which, even if unnoticed by the spectator, is a vital component of the final piece. The work of Krišs Salmanis is the process of thinking and the way of passing one’s life.  (text in 2015)
Artist's website

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Sukilando Ⅰ

On the first visit to Skiland I was overwhelmed by its character. Like a tired giant it was resting at the end of a path leading into the woods. If I were a filmmaker, I’d make a moody documentary about it, I thought.
After a while I remembered (and each time it is a complete surprise to me) that an artist may be whatever he decides to be. Scientist, philosopher, farmer.. Pretending to be a filmmaker is not even such a far stretch.
The resulting film is about time. About looking in the mirror, seeing the present, recalling the past and brooding over the future.

Sukilando Ⅰ
puppeteers: Eri Itoi, Rufus Ward
sound: twilight song Yuyake Koyake, slowed down to 6.3%
hyoshigi player: Nobutaka Kawano
taiko drummer: Migla
Shot on location with the kind permission of Hiroyo Jinaka and Hitoshi Jinaka – Skiland, Kamiyama, Tokushima prefecture, Japan
producer: Keiko Kudo / KAIR"

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Kamiyama blues

As a goodbye gesture to Kamiyama artist residency in Japan I left the set of clothes I'd been wearing during my stay. First, though, I dyed them in the local speciality – indigo. The note reads:

Shirt and shorts and shoes
dive into Amagoi Falls.
Kamiyama blues.

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