Unfurl 2023

Directed by Max Devereaux

Unfurl is a minimalist short film composed of six contemplative shots featuring different colored plastic bags placed before a dual-camera setup, presented in split-screen from two contrasting angles. Each sequence begins with Devereaux's hand compressing a bag, then releasing it — allowing the material to slowly expand. The initial release is rapid, but the motion soon settles into a meditative, near-slow-motion unfurling, drawing attention to the subtle behavior of shape, light, and texture. Inspired by a live performance Devereaux witnessed of avant-garde composer Takehisa Kosugi — specifically his act of wrapping a microphone in paper during a performance at the Getty Center's Rajikaru! conference — the film channels a similar spirit of experimental material interaction, silence, and focused perception. Unfurl invites viewers to observe slowness and transformation as a form of quiet performance.