Selected films from Brits’ archive from 2013—2022.
Ouroboros – Carbon Fibre Sculpture
2018 Runtime: 2’30’’
A film depicting Brits’ complex and time-consuming process of converting a hand-cut paper drawing into a 3D printed, carbon fibre sculpture. This film formed part of the artist’s STARTS Prize submission, an initiative of the European Commission to foster alliances of technology and artistic practice.
Videographer: Tariq Munshi
Editor: Bony Ska
Sound: Keith Virgo
From Drawing to Sculpture
2019. Runtime: 2’54’’
Shot over a period of three years, this film chronicles Brits’ vigorous material exploration and prototyping using advanced composite materials, such as carbon fibre together with innovative technologies such as 3D design and 3D printing. “Innovation requires a high degree of failure”, says Brits.
Videographer: David Brits
Editor: Bony Ska
Music: Lareine Mab
Artefact of Perception — Articulating Shadow
2017. Runtime: 2’19’’
Exhibited as part of the AVA’s Critics Choice Exhibition 2017, nominated by AVA board member Yazeed Kamildien.
Videographer: David Brits
Editor: Bony Ska
Music: Noturne in F flat minor by Frédéric Chopin
Time is a Flat Circle
2022. Runtime: 3'48''
A film accompanying Brits’ solo exhibition at MovArt Gallery, Lisbon. The film derives its footage from John Wood, the artists’ maternal grandfather.
Wood was one of South Africa’s most prominent reptile experts, snake catchers and snake showmen. Over a period of sixty years he caught thousands of snakes, spiders, scorpions, lizards and frogs for both medical research and the development of snake and spider antivenoms. Wood was a prolific poet, photographer and filmmaker, and shared his great passion for reptiles through these mediums as well as with his travelling snake show, which toured the country from the 1950ies to the 1970ies.
Footage: John Wood
Editor: Paulo Arraiano
Sound: Paulo Arraiano
My Day With: David
2015. Runtime: 3’06’’
A film shot by Bony Ska as part of My Day With, a project chronincling the lives of people of the Mother City by spending a day with them.
Videographer: Bony Ska
Editor: Bony Ska
Content: Catherine Rudolph.
Sea Meditation
2013. Runtime: 2’08’’
This film was made by Brits during his first experience of open ocean, blue water sailing. He and a crew of two others delivered a catamaran from Cape Town to the island of St Martin, Dutch Antilles, Caribbean - a somewhat staggering journey of 6000 Nautical Miles made over 42 Days at sea.
Skipper: Justin de Toranto
First Mate: Alex Willemse
Deck-hand: David Brits
Videographer & Editor: David Brits
Music: Deuter
Brits in front of Ouroboros 1.3.1 installed outside the IZIKO South African National Gallery. Photo: Kent Andreason