With the Payback deadline fast approaching in late October 2013, we interview moving image artist, Max Hattler, to find out about his experience of claiming Payback royalties, as well as what he's been up to recently.
Can you tell us a bit about your work?
I make abstract moving image work – short animations, video installations and audiovisual live performances. I’m interested in using abstraction to reflect on reality, to open up a space for questioning our perceptions.
My RCA graduation film
Collision (2005), for example, abstracts the so-called ‘War On Terror’ into a kaleidoscope of shapes and colours derived from American and Arab cultural heritage and national flags.
Last year, I exhibited a laser show-inspired geometric psychedelic ballet of lines and shapes on
a screen of moving water emerging from Regent’s Canal in King’s Cross (2012). With my audiovisual live performances, currently Hattlerizer 2.0, I take elements from my film practice and apply them within a real-time context.
Here’s a short clip from a recent gig at Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich.
How long have you been claiming Payback royalties for?
I did it first time last year. In hindsight, I can’t believe it took me so long to get started. The process is much easier than anticipated, doesn’t take long, and it did make me some money, so I’m very pleased about finally getting set up.
What did you do with last year’s Payback royalty?
Last year’s Payback royalty went straight into my savings. Boring, I know. Maybe this year I’ll spend it on something more specific and glamorous, like sex or drugs. Or maybe some new shoes.
What advice would you give to anyone signing up for Payback for the first time?
The main thing is: just do it. Having said that, it really helps if you know exactly which UK media your work has been published in in the past.
Do you have any interesting projects coming up that we should know about?
Right now I’m working on a 360 degree projection piece for a fulldome planetarium screen, which will premiere at the Museum of Cosmonautics in Kaluga, Russia in November. I'm also always playing
live somewhere, next up at
Animatou Festival in Geneva, at
Playgrounds Festival in Tilburg, Holland and at
Re-New Festival in Copenhagen.
Visit Max Hattler's website or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.
Has your work ever appeared in UK books, magazines or on TV? Apply for Payback royalties.
Image: Max Hattler, 2012. Photograph by Heiko Mozer. Courtesy of the artist.