Last year, Pinewood Studios held their first ever artist’s residency as one of Art Works for Business’s pilot partnerships. Local artist Lynda Cornwell spent time documenting a day in the life of Pinewood Studios through film and photographs. Originally Lynda intended to focus on the area of Pinewood known as Theatre 7 (this is a small theatre where producers and filmmakers view their rushes, occasional charity events take place and where films are seen by a cinema club on a regular basis). She found the project soon expanded to the whole site.
On Pinewood’s lot there is a large shallow tank which, filled with water, is used for filming scenes at sea. Behind the water there is a blue screen which dominates the landscape. Lynda was fascinated by the blue screen and found the colour blue ran as a theme throughout the project, picked up in reflections and structural details, especially strong in her photographic work. Lynda was also given a can of exposed film to use as part of the project. She used the film, part of a movie about robots called ‘Virtual Sexuality’, to create artworks which are now being exhibited in Theatre Seven along with her photographs. Stringing the film from wooden frames, Lynda gives it a new identity and exposes it to an audience’s view in an entirely different way from its originally intended use. Lynda is also in the process of creating a one-off artist’s book of the project containing sketches and photographs which document her residency.
This year Pinewood has asked Lynda back to extend the project. She hopes to expand on her original work with a series of large moveable wall hangings based on exposed film as before, but exploring questions of movement and light. Pinewood has also set her the exciting challenge of creating an artwork to be projected onto the vast exterior wall of the James Bond stage.
The following interview was conducted by Laura Boswell between Lynda Cornwell and Ann Runeckles, Pinewood’s administrator:
LB: Lynda, how did you feel initially about working with Pinewood?
LC: It was exciting to come in and make a new working partnership that worked, but it was also a challenge. I had to wait for the right ideas to come.’
LB: Ann, how was the brief for the project organised?
AR: There was no initial brief, but the work was always going to end up in Theatre 7. It’s an important area in Pinewood and Lynda’s work will be seen by some leading directors as well as film makers, actors and the general public. We had never worked with an artist before, but we thought it was a great idea and lovely to have a resident artist.
LB: Lynda, what interested you most about the project?
LC: It was the contrast between the gloss and glamour that Pinewood creates and the hard industrial outside spaces. That’s something that I’m looking to explore when I continue the project
LB: Ann, what was the reaction to Lynda’s work?
AR: It was mostly interested and positive, though there were some who found it harder to understand. The men on site installing Lynda’s exhibition were very enthusiastic and encouraging and generally everyone is very pleased. We are all happy with her work and excited about working with Lynda on this year’s project.
