Anthology Programme 3 at BFI Southbank

Composition 2: Contrathemis (Dwinell Grant, 1941, 5min); 69 (Robert Breer, 1968, 4min); Archangel (Victor Grauer, 1966, 10min); Apparent Motion (Paul Sharits, 1975, 30min); Wide Angle Saxon (Owen Land, 1975, 22min). Rather than using film as a way to tell stories, artists frequently explore the fundamental qualities of the medium and its potential for structuring events in time. Paul Sharits and Victor Grauer exploit the flicker effect in their psychedelic films. 69 is a kinetic display of single-frame animation, whilst Contrathemis recalls the absolute cinema of 1920s. Owen Land uses humour to undermine the rigour of later structural filmmakers.