{"id":16996,"date":"2025-07-15T13:09:21","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T17:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/?p=16996"},"modified":"2025-07-15T15:34:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T19:34:25","slug":"the-dancing-pixel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/the-dancing-pixel\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dancing Pixel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Caribou<\/em> (still) by Karson Schenk
digital animation of paper fragments; 2024. Courtesy of the artist.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COLLAGE ON VIEW<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dancing Pixel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

online at Kolaj Institute<\/a>
opening 15 July 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

“The Dancing Pixel”<\/a> presents eleven animated GIFs by an equal number of artists each of which offer a point of departure for a deeper understanding of this curious cultural output. The exhibition is intended to deepen our understanding of Animated GIFs and Collage in Motion, generally. We offer these artworks as a starting point. A place to debate and discuss both the technology and the art form and hopefully to inspire artists to consider where this medium fits into their larger practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of the contributing artists in the exhibition illustrates a different approach to GIF making and a different practice of putting these cultural morsels into the world.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A photograph of a cardboard wall becomes the site for a collection of animated stick figures to move around in Santa Monica, California’s multimedia artist Jody Zellen<\/strong>‘s Box Wall<\/em>. From The Hague, Netherlands, Malwina Chabocka<\/strong>‘s GIFs are a by-product of larger projects. We show an example from the painter and animator’s Fly on the Windshield<\/em> project. “I don\u2019t treat paper just as a background, but as a stage–an active space where elements unfold, bend, or emerge to create depth and movement,” wrote\u00a0 Buenos Aires, Argentina artist and art conservationist Paulina Laura Alonso<\/strong>. Portland, Oregon collagist Clive Knights<\/strong>‘ MAKE<\/em> is a simple, four-frame, analogue collage set in motion by turning it ninety degrees.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Faces 1<\/em> (still) by Lisa Barcy
digital animation of paper fragments; 2022. Courtesy of the artist.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“Some images tell a story, but the image can only tell you the beginning. An animated GIF lets you complete the story with a middle and an end,” wrote Nisha Alberti<\/strong>. In the Edinburgh, Scotland artist’s “Murderous Clothes” series, she animates clothing to eat the heads of the subjects in historic portraiture.  Hommage \u00e0 Louise Bourgeois<\/em> by Helsinki, Finland’s visual and video artist Gunzi Holmstr\u00f6m<\/strong> is part of a series of animated collage that celebrates artist ancestors. Colusa, California collagist Mark Vargo<\/strong> is using AI trained on his own analog artworks to make stopmotion GIFs. Miwa Matreyek<\/strong>, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, whose work operates at the intersection of performance and collage shows how GIFs can be used as documentation. Providence, Rhode Island collagist Karson Schenk<\/strong> brings paper fragments to life in a winter landscape in Caribou<\/em>. Chicago, Illinois filmmaker Lisa Barcy<\/strong> uses GIFs as a creative respite from the long, intense focus of filmmaking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada artist Katarina Marinic<\/strong> “started to experiment with gifs as a way to challenge and develop my skills, but to also allow for the image to be fluid and not be fixed. The ability to show movement with photographs opened up a lot more creativity and conceptual thinking.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exhibition was curated by Kolaj Institute’s Director Ric Kasini Kadour who wrote, “We find all of these approaches valid points on an expansive map of this terrain; a land we have not entirely made sense of. As such, we consider this exhibition a starting, not end, point for critical investigation and we welcome writers and curators who wish to contribute to be in touch. In the coming years, we hope to learn more about the history of animated GIFS, their role in culture, and how they are diffused into the cultural ecosystem and ultimately our cultural diets.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The Dancing Pixel” exhibition is part of Kolaj Institute’s Collage in Motion Project<\/a> that explores collage and the moving image, a broad, loosely defined category that includes animations, film cut-ups, collage film, stop-motion, documentaries about collage artists, and other forms of media in which collage\u2014as medium or genre\u2014is present. The project manifests as articles in Kolaj Magazine<\/em>, an online directory, workshops, residencies, and screenings. Artists with a practice of Collage in Motion are encouraged to submit to the online directory<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2025 Collage on Screen Artist Residency takes place over five weeks, 23 August-20 September 2025. Learn more and apply HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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VIEW THE EXHIBITION<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ABOUT KOLAJ INSTITUTE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The mission of Kolaj Institute is to support artists, curators, and writers who seek to study, document, and disseminate ideas that deepen our understanding of collage as a medium, a genre, a community, and a 21st century movement. We operate a number of initiatives meant to bring together community, investigate critical issues, and raise collage\u2019s standing in the art world. Kolaj Institute is a 501c3 Non-profit organization registered in the State of Louisiana, USA. LEARN MORE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

COLLAGE ON VIEW The Dancing Pixel online at Kolaj Instituteopening 15 July 2025 “The Dancing Pixel” presents eleven animated GIFs by an equal number of artists each of which offer a point of departure for a deeper understanding of this…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":17000,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11,62],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Karson-Schenk-Caribou.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2QTD7-4q8","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16494,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/calls-for-artists\/call-to-artists-dancing-pixel\/","url_meta":{"origin":16996,"position":0},"title":"Call to Artists: Dancing Pixel: An Exhibition of Animated Collage GIFs","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"11 May 2025","format":"gallery","excerpt":"CALL TO ARTISTS AT KOLAJ FEST NEW ORLEANS 2025 Dancing Pixel: An Exhibition of Animated Collage GIFS presented as part of The Dancing Pixel Exhibition & The Dancing Pixel Party at Kolaj Fest New Orleans 2025Friday, 27 June 2025 Deadline to submit: Sunday, 15 June 2025 In 1989, CompuServe released\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Calls for Artists"","block_context":{"text":"Calls for Artists","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/calls-for-artists\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pixel-Exhibition.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pixel-Exhibition.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pixel-Exhibition.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/Pixel-Exhibition.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17006,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-events\/lights-collage-action-collage-in-motion-on-screen\/","url_meta":{"origin":16996,"position":1},"title":"Lights! Collage! Action!: Collage in Motion & On Screen","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"15 July 2025","format":"gallery","excerpt":"KOLAJ LIVE ONLINE Lights, Collage, Action: Collage in Motion & On Screen Wednesday, 6 August 2025, 8PM EDT (0100 UTC) on Zoom GET TICKETS During this Kolaj LIVE Online, we are celebrating short collage films and animated GIFs. Host Ric Kasini Kadour will introduce Kolaj Institute's Collage in Motion project\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Events"","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/KLO-Lights-Collage-Action-EVENTBRITE.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/KLO-Lights-Collage-Action-EVENTBRITE.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/KLO-Lights-Collage-Action-EVENTBRITE.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/KLO-Lights-Collage-Action-EVENTBRITE.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/KLO-Lights-Collage-Action-EVENTBRITE.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/KLO-Lights-Collage-Action-EVENTBRITE.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":76,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/articles\/edvard-derkert-talks-about-collage\/","url_meta":{"origin":16996,"position":2},"title":"Edvard Derkert Talks About Collage","author":"editor","date":"29 October 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"By Edvard Derkert The first cut is the deepest. I encountered the collage at the age of 12 through album covers of the Beatles and Frank Zappa. Also, their music went hand in hand with collage. Early post production. I was very young, everything was possible, collage became my means\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4819,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-books\/poetics-dancing-redfoxpress\/","url_meta":{"origin":16996,"position":3},"title":"Poetics Dancing from Redfoxpress","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"23 May 2016","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Poetics Dancing, a collection of collaborative visual poems and collages by Koji Nagai and Andrew Topel, was released in January 2016 by Francis Van Maele\u2019s Redfoxpress. Nagai, who lives in Hiroshima, Japan and Topel, who lives in Florida, connected when Topel saw one of Nagai\u2019s digital collages on Facebook. A\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/poetics-dancing.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/poetics-dancing.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/poetics-dancing.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/poetics-dancing.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12590,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/circular-times\/","url_meta":{"origin":16996,"position":4},"title":"Circular Times","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"17 May 2022","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Adore Now by Sam Geuenscollage on paper. Courtesy of the artist. COLLAGE ON VIEW The Green Fairy & Sam Geuens: Circular Times at Raad Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie in Brussels, Belgium22 April-25 May 2022 The Green Fairy (Annemie Maes) and Sam Geuens present \"Circular Times\" to give an artistic expression, through analogue\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Exhibitions"","block_context":{"text":"Exhibitions","link":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/category\/content\/collage-exhibitions\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/sam-geuens-adore-now.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/sam-geuens-adore-now.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/sam-geuens-adore-now.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/sam-geuens-adore-now.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5647,"url":"https:\/\/kolajmagazine.com\/content\/content\/collage-events\/rock-paper-scissors-collage-party\/","url_meta":{"origin":16996,"position":5},"title":"Rock Paper Scissors Collage Party During Montreal’s Nuit Blanche","author":"Christopher Byrne","date":"1 March 2017","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Rock Paper Scissors Collage Party Saturday, 4 March 2017, 8PM-1AM Montr\u00e9al-based collage collective CTRL+V is teaming up with Ymuno Exhibitions to host a collage party. Come out to the gallery for Rock Paper Scissors: an exhibition, evening of collage making, and 60s-era rock n\u2019 roll. 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