flashbulb (Evel Knievel)

VIDEO INSTALLATION WITH SOUND - 1999

Our eyes are the original and most personal camera. This piece is an intimate and simultaneous double portrait of an incredible man and of us, explored through our desire to identify with greatness and to capture and keep that essence in the form of a personal photograph.


The viewer enters a completely darkened space to find their periphery engulfed with slowed down video of Evel Knievel midair in a motorcycle jump. He is submerged by the bomb blast flashbulbs of the audience member's cameras. Everyone, on their own trying to capture the moment of greatness. Without warning the image flashes and the viewer finds themself alone standing in complete darkness.


The image flashes and an afterimage of Evel suspended mid jump is temporarily imprinted on the viewer's eyes. Like a ghost he floats there until he is gone. With their own eyes as the camera now, each viewer takes a personal photograph creating the most intimate image possible.