From the Film Maker

This animation serves as a reminder of the transience of life, and is a contemporary reflection on the busy, yet hollow existence our gadgets and lifestyle create for us. Moving through her daily routine, a young woman navigates through, but is disconnected from, the world around her. Subjugated by the false friend at her side, her life is devoid of any real contact. As with the figure in Hals’ painting, she exists in a loop, caught in a juggling act between life around her and her disconnection from it. The animation is based on observational drawings from everyday life and uses Adobe Photoshop and After Effects software to combine traditional hand-drawn techniques with digitally composited textures.

Natasha Tonkin

A piece inspired by Frans Hals, Young Man holding a Skull, about 1626-8