David Claerbout The Close set image (planned and then denied), 2022

The drawings related to Claerbout's The Close, a black and white video work evoking the early days of cinema, may also be compared to production stills. They depict both the set and several of the protagonists seen in The Close. The aesthetic of the video work is beautifully captured in the gradations of the ink. Written annotations can be made out in some places. David Claerbout's drawings are an integral part of his practice. Each of his projects is accompanied by a small number of drawings that function as a combination of preparatory studies, notes regarding problems encountered during film shootings, and reminders of conceptual issues arising throughout the production.