WHERE Beaney House of Art and Knowledge
WHEN Saturday 09:00-17:00, Sunday 10:00-17:00
The magic lantern is a projection device invented in the 17th century. The machines used the light of candles and oil lamps to produce shows that took people’s breath away as they saw projected moving images for the very first time. These intricate machines were often used by magicians and conjurers, to create spellbinding tales of ghosts and spirits in the darkness of the projection room. In contrast to our digital age in which technology is largely hidden and incomprehensible, the magic lantern’s relatively simple mechanism – a direct ancestor of the motion picture projector – enable us to understand how moving image works – and create a sense of wonder.
For this exhibition nine specially selected artists are using material from the Beaney’s unique collections, together with rare original magic lantern machines and beautiful Victorian slides, as a starting point to create brand new works.
Stories in the Dark is curated by artist Ben Judd, and is a co-commission by the Beaney House of Art & Knowledge and Whitstable Biennale, festival of contemporary art.
With special thanks to Joss Marsh and David Francis (Kent Museum of the Moving Image), Nick Hiley (University of Kent) and The Magic Lantern Society. The exhibition continues until 19 June.