By Keith Walsh
When art is more than just work and processes, magic happens, transforming both the creator and the viewer. In the new video for “Sea Of Eyes” by Pete International Airport, new media artist Francesca Bonci once again flexes her formidable command of digital media, inspired while working with one of her favorite bands. The 7 minute long video, with its sound somewhere between electronica, psychedelia and shoegaze, presents a palette mostly of purple, bronze and blue, with images occult, industrial and theatrical.
I asked Francesca some questions about her work on “Sea Of Eyes” and her processes in general.
Popular Culture Beat: The video is brilliant. Your main color palettes are blue, bronze, purple. Care to comment on these choices and why they worked so well?
Francesca Bonci: Thank you. Happy you like the video! When I start a visual work, I rely on the sensations that the song transmits to me and then associate the sensations with the colors. The mood of this
wonderful, deep, intense song suggested quite dark tones, but at the same time that made me
explore some sense of spirituality and the softness of the ocean at night. But I’m analyzing it now
that you asked me, because I actually think that my work is based on instinct and I don’t plan a
priori.
Popular Culture Beat: There’s some analog treatment, showing up as distortions and fuzziness. What were these processes?
Francesca Bonci: All manipulations are analog. I worked with my devices for video synthesis. In particular with the VHS Processor of Lo-Fi Future and especially with the MisMatcher01 RevD of Freedom
Enterprise, both small hand-made European manufacturers of analog devices for video effects. I
love combining them to explore and find visual solutions through manipulation and improvisation.
In essence, it degrades the matter by creating new textures. Often pushing the break of the signal
almost to the point of losing it.
“My work is based almost exclusively on the emotional impact that the song has on me. And in trying to transform and return these sensations into something visual that respects the song and gives it added value.”
Francesca Bonci
Popular Culture Beat: If you can without sharing secrets, what are some of the digital effects in Final Cut, especially the layering modes?
Francesca Bonci: I use Final Cut only and exclusively to assemble the various parts, edit and superimpose the many layers I work on. I use the effects part a lot for color manipulation and green screen effects. I
voluntarily chose to use a simple program and avoid being influenced by preset effects to
maintain my originality and freedom of expression.
Popular Culture Beat: I assume you started with just the band raw footage? How many takes or rolls did they give you?
Francesca Bonci: I actually started working on the abstract background. Peter and Alex then sent me about ten clips each, which I then synchronized, manipulated and inserted into my visual background.
Popular Culture Beat: What’s with the repeated use of skulls in your work?
Francesca Bonci: The recurring use of skulls is exclusive to the videos of Pete International Airport, for which I made three other music videos and three covers. The skull, or rather the skull plane, is the symbol of the project. The logo. And Pete likes it to be present and recurring.
“I felt that we were coming out of a very dark moment thanks to that wonderful thing that is art. It was a very beautiful journey.”
Francesca Bonci
Popular Culture Beat: Where did you source the myriad of eyes at the mid point?
Francesca Bonci: They are eyes photographed or found in my library and repeated. Well, eyes are a very recurring element in all my videos.
Popular Culture Beat: I find that art can transform not only the viewer but also the maker. Can you speak
specifically about how Sea of Eyes, or Pete’s music in general, has transformed you in
the making of their videos?
Francesca Bonci: Well, all the people I meet on my life path influence me and leave me with something of
themselves. Even more so those with whom I share an artistic experience. In particular, working on Peter’s project was healing. The album talks about the feelings experienced during the early days of the pandemic, when the world seemed to be ending, but we also had hope. I found that hope in art. And this collaboration represented that, and the various videos came out shortly after, so they were a fantastic way to start breathing again. I shared a common feeling, I felt that we were coming out of a very dark moment thanks to that wonderful thing that is art. It was a very beautiful journey. I am very grateful to Peter and all those beautiful people involved in the project.
Popular Culture Beat: Do you feel the use of eyes in their theme is a kind of interaction with your frequent use of eyes?
Francesca Bonci: It was certainly not intentional, but I am happy that one of the tracks chosen by Peter for a video was “Sea of Eyes,”, a beautiful and poetic song, with Alex on vocals, who I think is fantastic, a guy with a big soul. I really liked the idea of this sea of eyes. It inspired me a lot.
Popular Culture Beat: Anything to add about how the vibe of the song informed your aesthetic and approach?
Francesca Bonci: As I said before, my work is based almost exclusively on the emotional impact that the song has on me. And in trying to transform and return these sensations into something visual that respects the song and gives it added value.
Francesca Bonci LinkTree
Francesca Bonci WordPress
Francesca Bonci Facebook
Francesca Bonci Instagram
Francesca Bonci YouTube
Pete International Airport Facebook
finis