The enigmatic work of Swiss artist Klaus Lutz (1940-2009) lies somewhere between the meditations of a recluse and the fantasies of a utopian visionary. Reminiscent of Georges Méliès, Chaplin, and with overtones of both the Russian avant-garde and the Bauhaus, his films are mysterious mental landscapes in which a curious solitary figure – the artist himself – flies over imaginary cities and through interstellar space, interacting with signs and drawings, props and structures.

Shot almost entirely in Lutz’s tiny East Village apartment in the 1990s and 2000s, the films – which harness performance, animation and intricate multiple exposure on 16mm film – speak to the earliest origins of cinema, while folding in the legacy of twentieth-century performance work. For this special event we present both single-screen films and Lutz’s unique double-projections onto both the screen and a large white balloon, creating convex, circular images.

Despite having shown worldwide, including solo shows in Zurich, New York and elsewhere, Lutz’s work has never before screened in the UK.

Curated and introduced by Lutz’s friend and peer, artist Hannes Schüpbach.

Films
Arabia
Klaus Lutz, 1991, 6 min, twin 16mm projection

Titan
Klaus Lutz, 2008, 14 min, 16mm

The Beauty of My Island – Shooting Klaus Lutz
Frank Matter, 1999, 33 min, digital

Location
Pavilion
42 New Briggate
Leeds, LS1 6NU

Tickets
Free / optional donation
Booking essential (42 New Briggate is a small venue)
Book now

A Projections touring programme by Tyneside Cinema, supported by the Swiss Cultural Fund UK.