Splitscreen

In Timo Ullmann's video work «Splitscreen», the artist stages a fascinating interplay between technology and the body. The piece opens with Ullmann's hands positioning screens of varying sizes within the frame. Fingers appear in the smallest, pressing against the surface of the screen from the inside out until it breaks. Various body parts - an elbow, a knee, a foot, and a head - follow in the other screens, also splintering their surfaces. The visual tension is amplified by a binaural sound recording of the shattering, crunching, cracking of the panels and the artist's breathing. To create these images and sounds, Ullmann placed himself between the LCD surface and the device's light source, making the body parts appear like abstract silhouettes in a shadow theater. As he continues to press on the surfaces, the liquid crystals melt and morph, creating seemingly graphic drawings, and the composition evolves dynamically across the array of displays. In a touchscreen gesture, Ullmann then expands the central video across all screens, transforming the individual screens into a unified, cohesive image. Toward the end of the video, the artist deconstructs the composition screen by screen, closing the video loop. «Splitscreen» is a complex, layered exploration of fragmentation - of screens, the artist's body and visual composition. Through disruption and reconfiguration, Timo Ullmann challenges traditional perceptions and engages viewers in a constant reconsideration of what lies before them. Upon request, a high-resolution 4K version will be provided by the artist (contact: timoullmann.com) after purchase.