Enthusiasm functions both as an art exhibition and as a historical archive of amateur

cinema. Interestingly it began as a project of investigation into all the film material that was not catalogued in the Polish state collections. An extension of this drive to make freely available cultural artefacts is how Cummings and Lewandowska with the authors of the films, registered all the material in Enthusiasm under the Creative Commons licence. The idea of democratising artistic creation and the re-distribution of cultural capital is an important force in the work. Film as an industry is highly profitable, hierarchical business. The consequent ownership of films invariably boils down to a question of monetary value for its rights. Even old amateur productions have entered institutional archives and money is required to access them. There is paradox in this, that amateur film production encouraged by a Socialist government would find its resting place as an expensive commodity for privileged few. Cummings and Lewandowska re-established these works as an open-source by digitising them and making them available online for viewing and downloading.

 

 

 

The dominance of the internet in the art world can be utilised in a way such as the open source movement and the Creative Commons as a rebellion against copyright and as an alternative system for producing and distributing knowledge. However, this can be taken further by the artist, as a springboard for ideas and creative collaboration. In spending my time, mostly in isolation, I was able although distanced geographically, to maintain contact with the art community in Sydney. The emergence of Blogs and chatrooms has greatly influenced the way in which I worked. I maintained a personal Blog for a year which helped me to maintain dialogue with colleagues and create new contacts. Pragmatically, the Blog has been essential in introducing people to my work and way of thinking, which was very important to people who wanted to work with me.

 

 

                                       Opening of the 1971 OKFA Film Festiwal, Oswiecim

                                       Jan Dzida, 1971 courtesy AKF Klaps, Chybie

 

 

                                        Through the Mirror, film still, 1985 Franciszek Dzida, AKF Klaps, Chybie

                                        Sisiphus, film still, 1971 Tadeusz Wudzki, AKF Wiedza, Warszawa