Thomas Zanz

Life Cycle-4

2012

acrylic on white linen framed

54 9/16 x 28 11/16 x 2 1/2 in

138.59 x 72.87 x 6.35 cm

Life Cycle-4

2012

acrylic on peasant linen framed

54 9/16 x 28 11/16 x 2 1/2 in

138.59 x 72.87 x 6.35 cm

Life Cycle-4

2012

acrylic on canvas framed

54 9/16 x 28 11/16 x 2 1/2 in

138.59 x 72.87 x 6.35 cm

Life Cycle-4 (series)

2012

acrylic on black linen framed, LG-26" LED HDTV, Sony Blu-ray DVD player,  surge protector, HDMI cable,   TV & DVD remote controls, Nielsen Metal frame, foam-board, Den Glass, aluminum bars, wood, hanging wire, various fasteners

54 9/16 x 28 11/16 x 2 1/2 in

138.59 x 72.87 x 6.35 cm

Film:  Life Cycle, 2013, Griffin Christensen collaboration with ZanZ, HD video, color, sound, a performance by Thomas ZanZ.

Full-length film: 131:26 minute loop.

Drawing:  Melancholy Man, 1985, Thomas Christensen (Thomas Zanz),  charcoal on newsprint under Den Glass.

18 x 22 5/8 in         45.72 x 57.47 cm

For further information, please refer to the future blog.

Life Cycle-4

2012

 LG-26" LED HDTV, Sony Blu-ray DVD player, Nielsen Metal frame, surge protector, HDMI cable, foamboard, TV & DVD remote controls, aluminum bars, wood, hanging wire, various fasteners.

54 9/16 x 28 11/16 x 2 1/2 in

138.59 x 72.87 x 6.35 cm

Life Cycle-4 (series)

2012

Tom Christensen (Thomas Zanz), Melancholy Man, 1985.

charcoal on newsprint under glass.

18 x 22 5/8 in

45.72 x 57.47 cm

Life Cycle-4 (series)

2012

Griffin Christensen in collaboration with Thomas ZanZ.

Performance: Thomas ZanZ

HD video, color, sound, 5:28 minutes.

The progression of life and life.  The Life Cycle film begins with a childhood bright, pure, peaceful  and innocent, almost like a dream. It then overlaps into midlife where we witness a performance by Thomas ZanZ annihilating  both a baby blue and pink painting.  From there it overlaps into old age where we once again find peace. Then death. This progression through the life stages takes about 4 1/2 minutes. 

The life stages segment is directly followed by a 30 second spot.  Now these 30 second spots; these are what makes life... life.  They are the memorable things, good or bad.   The subject matter can be exciting, commercial, funny, sexy, serious, nonsensical just to name a few of the 29 different spots.   

So the film is structured into the two parts;  the same life stages segment plays 29 times with a 30 second spot between each one.  Playing the same life stages segment repeatedly demonstrates when life becomes monotonous, ordinary, and dull. But, with the 30 second spots brings excitement, hope, and anticipation for something extraordinary.

Please watch the trailer where you will see the life stages segment followed by an eclectic compilation from some of the 30 second spots.

For more details, please check back for future blog and for now watch the film "Life Cycle"

Trailer: 5:28 minutes.

Full-length film: 131:26 minutes.

2012

Installation painting

4 individual paintings overlapping, acrylic and oil on linen or canvas framed, HD video, charcoal on newsprint under glass, installation view

54 9/16 x 110 1/4 x 2 1/2 in

138.59 x 280 x 6.35 cm 

Film:  Life Cycle, 2013, Griffin Christensen collaboration with ZanZ, HD video, color, sound, a performance by Thomas ZanZ.

Full-length film: 131:26 minute loop.

Drawing:  Melancholy Man, 1985, Thomas Christensen (Thomas ZanZ),  charcoal on newsprint under glass.

18 x 22 5/8 in         45.72 x 57.47 cm

Hardware (A Death 4-4):  LG-26" LED HDTV, Sony Blu-ray DVD player, Nielsen Metal frame, surge protector, HDMI cable, foamboard, TV & DVD remote controls, aluminum bars, wood, hanging wire, various fasteners.

Stages of life; childhood, midlife, old age, and death. The looping film integrated into the upper right corner reveals insights into the paintings and charcoal drawing.

The film also explores ordinary day to day life interrupted by extraordinary moments of good and bad, excitement, comedy, seriousness, arousal, and some plain old nonsence.

Please watch the entire trailer to get a feel. 

The charcoal drawing of the old man with a Soviet Union and American flag draped over his head is placed directly below the looping film. The film represents his thoughts and reflections at death. 

More information will follow on the future blog.