Zoe Beloff (film still)© Zoe Beloff. Image: sitegallery.org
Much like the traditional archaeologist, media excavators can often stumble upon a mysterious object of value. Zoe Beloff was digging around in the Vrielynck Collection in Antwerp when she came across the inspiration for her current show.
The find was a roll of film in a box labelled with the words La rêve infernal de Mutt and Jeff 1. How could she not explore further such grandiose visions by protagonists of the longest running comic strip ever?
Her interest in the subsequent cartoon, which may be an original from the studio of Raoul Barré and Charles Bowers, or may be a European bootleg, led her to a consideration of early moving image, motion studies and management science.
Beloff draws this all together using film, antique equipment, wire sculpture and a reference to the most famous Mutt in art. In other words, the 'R. Mutt' whose name appears on the side of Duchamp's urinal.
The show is recommended, but those who can't get to Sheffield should fret not: the Scots-born, US-based artist has posted photos and a catalogue essay on her site at www.zoebeloff.com. There, too, it is worth digging around.
- Open Tuesday-Saturday 11am-5.30pm. Admission free.
