Flux, 1977
Single-channel video, black and white, sound, 8:11 minutes
Courtesy of ZKM (Zentrum für Kunst und Medien)
In Flux, Steina merges footage of flowing water with video noise and a turbulent electronic soundtrack. The work forms part of her early investigations into the spatial and directional properties of electronic image processing, where switching, scanning, and signal interference operate as compositional elements. Using George Brown’s Field Flip/Flop Switcher, Steina constructs sequences through rapid alternation between video sources, establishing rhythm through electronic switching rather than linear editing.
In later passages, she intervenes directly in playback by manually moving the tape reel, introducing shifts in speed, direction, and stability. The work is structured through the interaction of distinct image and noise fields, bringing horizontal and vertical scan patterns into relation. Tape manipulation and signal processing remain visible, situating the image within the technical procedures that generate it.