Len Lye
Len Lye
A pioneer of direct-animation, Len Lye (1901–1980) was also a highly innovative painter, photographer and poet, as well as an important figure in kinetic sculpture. Born in New Zealand, Lye left home as a young man in search of film activity and the stimulation that would satisfy what he called his preoccupation with art and movement. Inspired by the primitive imagery of South Sea Island art and film’s power to present dance ritual and music, Lye’s experimental — and often revolutionary — camera-less techniques attracted the attention of John Grierson and Alberto Cavalcanti of the General Post Office Film Unit in London, which sponsored A Colour Box and other films. Although Lye’s filmmaking had nearly ceased by the late 60s, he continued to speak of his belief in cinema as ‘the Cinderella of the fine arts.’ Roger Horrocks
The Australian Cinémathèque gratefully acknowledges the assistance of The New Zealand Film Archive and The Len Lye Foundation. 'Len Lye' was compiled by Roger Horrocks for the New Zealand Film Archive and The Len Lye Foundation.
Len Lye All ages 66 minutes
Sat 24 May 3.00pm / Cinema A
Tusalava 1929
16MM, BLACK AND WHITE, SILENT, 10 MINUTES, UK / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE / MUSIC: JACK ELLITT
A Colour Box 1935
16MM, COLOUR, MONO, 4 MINUTES, UK / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE / MUSIC: DON BARETTO AND CUBAN ORCHESTRA
Kaleidoscope 1935
16MM, COLOUR, MONO, 4 MINUTES, UK / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE / MUSIC: DON BARETTO AND CUBAN ORCHESTRA
The Birth of the Robot 1936
16MM, COLOUR, MONO, 7 MINUTES, UK / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE / MUSIC: HOLST
Rainbow Dance 1936
16MM, COLOUR, MONO, 5 MINUTES, UK / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE
Trade Tattoo 1937
16MM, COLOUR, MONO, 5 MINUTES, UK / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE
N. or N.W. 1937
16MM, BLACK AND WHITE, MONO, 7 MINUTES, UK / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE
Colour Flight 1938
16MM, COLOUR, MONO, 4 MINUTES, UK / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE / MUSIC: RED NICHOLS
Swinging the Lambeth Walk 1939
16MM, COLOUR, MONO, 4 MINUTES, UK / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE / MUSIC: DJANGO REINHARDT, STEPHANE GRAPELLI
Musical Poster #1 1940
16MM, COLOUR, MONO, 3 MINUTES, UK / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE
Colour Cry 1952-3
16MM, COLOUR, MONO, 3 MINUTES, USA / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE / MUSIC: SONNY TERRY
Tel Farlow 1980
16MM, BLACK AND WHITE, MONO, 2 MINUTES, USA / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE / MUSIC: TAL FARLOW
Rhythm 1957
16MM, BLACK AND WHITE, MONO, 1 MINUTE, USA / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE
Free Radicals 1958
16MM, BLACK AND WHITE, MONO, 4 MINUTES, USA / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE / REVISED 1979
Particles in Space 1979
16MM, BLACK AND WHITE, MONO, 4 MINUTES, USA / DIRECTOR: LEN LYE / MUSIC: YORUBA NIGERIA
