Peter Kubelka und Jonas Mekas

In a series of films made in the 1990s Friedl Kubelka introduced a new element: her participation in the film by interacting with the subject. These films are designed in such a way that the camera films a frontal view of the apparently motionless face, and a touch-a caress of the hair, a kiss, a hug-demonstrates the artist´s relationship with the subject being portrayed, who react in various ways, whether through a lightening of facial expression, a smile or intensified squinting. This matter of involvement represents the specific nature of this series of portrait films, ensuring Kubelka an outstanding position in the field of avant-garde film.

(Hemma Schmutz)


"Can I film a double portrait of you?". And then I went to Peter with whom I haven´t spoken since three days because we were quarreling and gave him a kiss. That was actually quite cold-blooded because Peter always felt that he had to induce the reconcilement and that I never did – what he was quite right about that. So I thought let´s do a reconcilement in front of the camera. One can see how he straightens up and becomes quite pleased during the film.

(from an interview with Friedl vom Gröller)