The videotape 5 Rather Profound Thoughts (5 Behoorlijk Diepe Gedachten) consists of five short, untitled, video poems. In six minutes Pieter Baan Müller shows us five short impressions that appear to lack any meaning at all; by calling them ‘Profound Thoughts’ they achieve the status of fleeting thoughts or products of one’s imagination. What to think of the shot in which Müller is standing next to a naked woman and, right in between them, paints half a circle on the wall by using red paint? And how about the scene in which Müller paints a stream of water on the white background, from his face into a bucket, while we hear the loud noise of pouring water? The five chapters are not making any immediate sense but display a very imaginative and primal con…otation. In this way, the tape reflects the importance of symbolism in the work of Müller. By placing figures and objects together in an unexpected context, Müller allows them to function as signs. The usage of these symbols permits him to express his ideas in an unconventional way, forcing the spectator to determine his/her own position towards his work. Subsequently, 5 Rather Profound Thoughts demonstrates Müller’s ability to combine video, painting and performance into an intriguing and poetic piece.

Netherlands Media Art Institute, Selina Schepers Read more...