1968 Essex University Exhibition - Installation test footage

Below are prototype installation designs for Essex University's upcoming Student Protests of 1968 exhibition. These designs are at an early stage and images/footage used here are for test purposes only. I am looking to source more footage/images which relate specifically to the events of 1968 at Essex University. The footage below has been shot to demonstrate initial concepts, and are no way intended as final outcomes. 

Installation 1

A single central paper screen is projected onto from opposite sides. On one side we see the student/teacher body engaged in protest. on the other side we see the authorities/police. 

The viewer is free to move around the central screen, as they do so they will block/obstruct each projectors beam, this reveals the hidden image from the opposite projector. As they move in front of the students image they reveal the police behind, the viewer effectively becoming part of the authorities standing in front of the students. As they move around the side with the police they reveal the students, this time becoming part of the crowd of students facing off against the police. 

Ideally the screen wants to be much larger so that the entirety of the viewers silhouette is cast onto the screen, it also wants to be much wider so that multiple people can stand along its width. This will alter the ratio of students to police depending on which side viewers stand. The positioning and number of viewers present will therefore directly affect the agency of the work.  

While this has been tested with still images ideally footage from the period would be used so that a more visually confusing and dynamic picture is created. The viewers silhouette revealing fleeting and ever changing compositions, as footage from each side is randomly juxtaposed. 

Two conflicting soundtracks could be played from each side of the screen, so that as the viewer moves round the work conflicting sounds/viewpoints are heard adding to the sense discord. 


LLOYD EVANS - Protests 1968 - studio test from Lloyd Evans on Vimeo.

Installation 2

This work relates specifically to the events surrounding Dr Inch from Porton Down's lecture which was highjacked by student protesters. In the event students flooded into the lecture theatre and didn't let Dr Inch leave as they read out an indictment against the chemical weapons work carried out at the Porton Down facility. As authorities tried to remove a student reading the indictment another would stand up and carry on reading from one of numerous copies of the document. 

This installation is designed to be viewed from the front only unlike installation 1. 
An image/video of the protesters is to be projected onto the paper screen from the front. The screen is also back projected with the Porton Down indictment text. As the viewer moves across the image they will move in front of the  projectors beam, partially blocking the image/video of protesters and revealing the indictment text. Thus the viewer becomes complicit in the act of shaming/exposing the activities at Porton Down.  

I have not been able to find a transcript of the indictment online and in this test a random word document was used to prove concept. However I am hoping that a copy may be held either by the University or by a ex-protester which I can use. 

Audio of multiple past or present students reading the indictment could be used to echo the events of that day.  


LLOYD EVANS - Protests 1968 (Indictment) studio test from Lloyd Evans on Vimeo.