Popeye Sees 3D

Studying painting with Hans Hofmann had sensitized me to depth phenomena, to strange readings of depth including the most unnatural: flat. In 1964, I learned of the Pulfrich Effect and gained access to wholly illusionistic depth way beyond indication. This led in 1975 to my partner Flo and I beginning to explore the NERVOUS SYSTEM, performing with two stop-motion film projectors to superimpose sequential film frames showing different perspectives for extended periods of time. A spinning shutter between projectors activated the compound image onscreen, introducing depths available even to a single eye but strange, uncanny; nuts. In 2000 we switched to digital processes, we patented our discoveries for the new medium and exploration continued, continues. Eternalisms show stereo photographs, their two close perspectives joined via computer to display as a single ongoing dimensional image that can be seen without glasses. Not to be trusted for a moment but interesting. Popeye Sees 3D is a display of some of these images.
Ken Jacobs

Ken Jacobs is an experimental filmmaker based in New York. His films have been shown 11 times at the Berlinale, three times at the Forum and eight times at Forum Expanded.

Forum Expanded catalog 2017