David Claerbout Wildfire (Brain on Fire (2)), 2022-2023

The work belongs to a series of sketches made in acrylic paint, pastel, pencil and gouache on paper, made by David Claerbout alongside the production of his 2019-2020 video installation: Wildfire (meditation on fire). Despite its hyper realistic appearance, Wildfire (meditation on fire) is not a film shot on location. Originally conceived for Musea Brugge, the 24-minute single channel video projection uses 3D computer techniques and a simple camera movement to depict a spectacular wildfire in an artificially rendered landscape. Moving at a very slow pace, views of a luscious forest slowly merge into dramatic—and hypnotic—still images of destructive flames. Projected on a large-scale free-standing screen, the work seems to absorb the viewer into its hellish scenery.