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Burn Out
Collection:CSM Museum & Study Collection
Date: 2022
Artist: Lee Ricks
Object number: MISC.2023.479.CC
DescriptionDigitial film by Lee Ricks. Description by artist: This film, Burn Out, is a stop motion animation focused on a mechanical candlemaker named Seppe in a Victorian-like setting. He has in his back a wind-up key, which gives him energy each day to do his work. Every night, he is wound up again to give him energy for the next day.
The first day, he is in a normal and comfortable routine, completing his work with careful attention and with contentment. He completes a normal order, places it outside, and then winds himself up at a mechanical device on the wall.
On the second day, he awakes like normal. He is ready to do more work, and there is a knock on the door. He is shocked to find a much larger box of supplies than he is used to, and he is confused. After checking the time, he rushes around to get the job done. As he gets tired, he begins to make mistakes - he drops his candles, he makes them into crooked shapes, and this distresses him. He does barely manage to finish the work, his key turning slowly and his body tired. He winds himself up.
He is woken abruptly by a knock on the door on the third day. He opens the door to two large boxes of supplies. He sets about work, and by the night he realizes that he cannot possibly get this done. He must make a decision between winding himself up, or trying to finish making the candles. He chooses the latter. He works slowly, his energy running out, but he devotes his compassion for his work in his last minutes. He and his key gets slower and slower, and eventually comes to a complete stop.
The first day, he is in a normal and comfortable routine, completing his work with careful attention and with contentment. He completes a normal order, places it outside, and then winds himself up at a mechanical device on the wall.
On the second day, he awakes like normal. He is ready to do more work, and there is a knock on the door. He is shocked to find a much larger box of supplies than he is used to, and he is confused. After checking the time, he rushes around to get the job done. As he gets tired, he begins to make mistakes - he drops his candles, he makes them into crooked shapes, and this distresses him. He does barely manage to finish the work, his key turning slowly and his body tired. He winds himself up.
He is woken abruptly by a knock on the door on the third day. He opens the door to two large boxes of supplies. He sets about work, and by the night he realizes that he cannot possibly get this done. He must make a decision between winding himself up, or trying to finish making the candles. He chooses the latter. He works slowly, his energy running out, but he devotes his compassion for his work in his last minutes. He and his key gets slower and slower, and eventually comes to a complete stop.