Ian Emes is an artist filmmaker who has worked on many films. He discussed his work creating visual elements for Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon concert tour, which was a huge success. Emes believes in an experimental and nonlinear approach to his work, without strict beginnings, middles, and ends, though this view was questioned by some in his audience. His process involves experimenting, then facing financial difficulties before earning money again. When questioned about his methods, Emes responds that it is simply his approach and style.

1. Shooting the Moon – Ian Emes
This talk was held at the new Parkside building ground floor, Ian Emes is a Artist Filmmaker
and had worked on many films, there was even a display of his work in panels.
He says that there are two different type of human being, there are left brain users who are
mostly interested in science, mathematics, etc. However, the right brain users who are more
creative were “dumped” into these art colleges. But many had emerge with great
talents, even music bands were coming out from art college.
Ian who was creating a digital element in his art filmmaking was commissioned to work with
the Pink Floyd, in creating The Dark Side of the Moon concert into something else entirely.
It was a huge success and many still remember the day it was created.
Then onwards he helped create albums with a single theme. In those days artist who were
lucky enough or weren’t as well known and went under the radar, they were able to play
around with how they create their music instead of being restricted to a certain style.
The Dark Side of the Moon was only just the start, the band was continuously evolving, they
had enough freedom to play around in the studio.
I think that’s one aspect of why they were so successful, they were given freedom to do
what they please, rather then pleasing other people.

2. Ian Emes’ work
Dark Side Of The Moon-Time by Ian Emes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsxkBbkOQWA

3. Ian Emes style of working and belief
Within the talk he mentioned that he doesn’t believe in a start, middle and end. That people
go to the cinema and expect what they want to see and for it to be structured it a certain
way. What he likes is to be presented with a piece of art to watch and self discover what it is
about, without the director guiding the viewer.
I personally strongly disagree with this way of thinking, and within the audience he was
questioned, yet he did not give a worthy enough answer to respond to how he thinks. But
because storyline element is such an important aspect of how we understand things, it had
become essential in terms of how we view things. We were taught to create an image where
there is a story within.
Ian Emes method of working is more of a cycle, which he elaborate into three stages, he first
experiment, then he goes broke, then he earn money. He had always worked like that, and if
people question his way of doing things he would respond by saying:
“It’s what I Do.”

4. Ian is correct in saying, ‘It’s what I do’
Each designer, artists, story writer and others develop their own style in their due
time, no one starts off with a unique style, it comes from studying and spending
hours, weeks, months, years to develop a personal style.
I am still trying to find my own style, and whilst I search. I keep on expanding my own
knowledge of these existing creators, because the work they create is inspiring. You
may not entirely agree with the artist way of thinking or working, but you must
understand the concept of their work.
And accept every person has different taste, this is a fact, that is why judging art has
no definite criteria because there aren’t any. As a creator, we rarely get a chance to
entirely work in our own style, because we have briefs to follow. But if you do have a
chance to create something entirely in your style and the person who hired you likes
your style, that is an amazing opportunity. And deep inside each and everyone of
us, we ought to keep to our own style, when the time is suitable.
Karen Pang