SPECTRAL. Spatial, Performative & Expanded Cinematics - Transnational Research at Artist-run Labs

SPECTRAL brings together six artist-run labs dedicated to analogue film practices through experimental and DIY approaches. Their work encompasses research, curation, invention, empirical engineering, and construction, all developed within a non-hierarchical framework. The participating labs share a common enthusiasm for experimental cinema and its history, from the pioneers of moving-image technology to avant-garde, underground, and cross-media practices.

Building on this heritage, SPECTRAL extends these traditions into new contexts by intertwining them with other artistic disciplines through expanded cinematic practices. The project uses the collective term Expanded Cinematic Arts (E.C.A.) to describe this broad range of approaches. For SPECTRAL, inspiration is drawn from historical projection traditions—including Asian shadow theatre, magic lanterns, and phantasmagoria—as well as from contemporary visual and performance art.

These historical references are reactivated to develop new artistic forms through photomechanical projection, performative practices, hybrid technologies, and artistic research. By fostering the creation and circulation of Expanded Cinematic Arts, SPECTRAL promotes plurality while creating sensory experiences grounded in exchange, collaboration, and communication. At the same time, the project seeks to develop new structures and tools for E.C.A., challenging conventional models of moving-image production, exhibition, and distribution.

Documentation is a central component of the project. It includes technical documentation of newly developed devices, video recordings of performances, workshop reports, and a wide range of supporting materials—including texts, photographs, interviews, and sketches—that together form a comprehensive E.C.A. archive. These materials are collected and made accessible through a collaborative online wiki and are brought together in a final printed publication.