It is a reconceptualised celebration of a James Joyce line from Ulysses (1922): “On his wise shoulders through the checkerwork of leaves the sun flung spangles, dancing coins."

Sun Flung is a series of iPhoneography light paintings shot on an iPhone4. It was shot sequentially using the same backdrop, a rectangular sandstone tile. Each image was cropped to a square 12x12 block format. The mid-tones and contrast were adjusted to re-create the original images to present an abstract visual narrative.

“Sun Flung is a small reminder that we are intrinsically part of nature,” says Bell. “Nature is worthy not only of our awe, but of our infinite respect, considered preservation and far closer attention. Nature’s infinite shapes, diverse rhythms, and sublime, mysterious patterns echo our science, our existence, and our creative cosmos. The simplicity of shadows of sunlight dancing through leaves onto the earth evokes our naked geography and our evolving, constantly transforming, creative selves.”

“I am entranced by the creative visual language of the sun and the duality of its constantly changing light. Whenever I see ‘dancing coins’ of light I think of James Joyce, specifically Ulysses, which is a wonderful, generous literary work for an artist to leave behind for humanity to explore,” she continues.

Dancing Coins is an iPhone Videography installation, the source of Sun Flung and footage of the constantly moving shapes created by wind, leaves and sunlight.

Suzy Bell is a published poet, author, picture-comic book artist, art columnist, art blogger and cultural activist. She lectures in English and African literature and poetry at a private college. She is currently exploring and experimenting as a multimedia artist working with text/poetry and sound performance, iPhone Videography and iPhoneography. Bell is well-known in the arts community for initiating and curating the multi-media Red Eye @rt project at The Durban City Hall, and for directing the Durban Designer Collection (DDC) multi-media fashion and art performances. She has been living and writing in Cape Town for the past ten years and studied at UCT, graduating with an MA in Creative Writing.

For more information, contact Suzy Bell on 076 375 5675 or email [email protected].