Noémie Goudal's The Story of Fixity presents itself as an exploration of ecosystems and water's fundamental role, drawing on biology, geology, scientific research, and the artist's own observations. However, beneath its dense, layered surfaces, the work feels more like a complex exercise in abstraction than a genuine engagement with the natural world.
The film's depiction of a jungle is reminiscent of those unconvincing, garden-centre-set jungles commonly seen on TV or in movies – but, thanks to clever editing and camera angles, these artifice-laden scenes can pass as realistic. Yet, it soon becomes apparent that nothing holds together here; the plants seem to be melting into the background like watercolour bleeding into a damp sponge.
In reality, Goudal has opted for an even more radical approach: transforming the jungle into a patchwork of engravings and illustrations from old encyclopaedias. The effect is disorienting – one can't quite pin down where the image begins or ends. It's as if she's taken apart an entire world, only to reassemble it in a form that feels both mesmerising and impenetrable.
The artist's use of layered screens, pigmented abstractions, and real liquid paint creates a sense of depth and dimensionality – but also raises questions about the very nature of representation. Is this supposed to be an exploration of perception, or simply a display of technical virtuosity?
Ultimately, it feels like Goudal is playing with the idea of illusion itself, dissolving images one by one in order to reveal their underlying structures. However, this process also risks becoming overly theatrical – and, in some cases, downright alienating.
While I can appreciate the complexity and sophistication on display here, I'm left feeling a little lost, like an outsider observing a intricate dance that's just beyond my grasp. Perhaps that's the point – or maybe it's simply a reflection of Goudal's refusal to provide clear answers in the first place. Either way, The Story of Fixity is undoubtedly a work of art that demands close attention and multiple viewings; whether you emerge from its depths with any deeper understanding of our relationship with nature remains to be seen.
The film's depiction of a jungle is reminiscent of those unconvincing, garden-centre-set jungles commonly seen on TV or in movies – but, thanks to clever editing and camera angles, these artifice-laden scenes can pass as realistic. Yet, it soon becomes apparent that nothing holds together here; the plants seem to be melting into the background like watercolour bleeding into a damp sponge.
In reality, Goudal has opted for an even more radical approach: transforming the jungle into a patchwork of engravings and illustrations from old encyclopaedias. The effect is disorienting – one can't quite pin down where the image begins or ends. It's as if she's taken apart an entire world, only to reassemble it in a form that feels both mesmerising and impenetrable.
The artist's use of layered screens, pigmented abstractions, and real liquid paint creates a sense of depth and dimensionality – but also raises questions about the very nature of representation. Is this supposed to be an exploration of perception, or simply a display of technical virtuosity?
Ultimately, it feels like Goudal is playing with the idea of illusion itself, dissolving images one by one in order to reveal their underlying structures. However, this process also risks becoming overly theatrical – and, in some cases, downright alienating.
While I can appreciate the complexity and sophistication on display here, I'm left feeling a little lost, like an outsider observing a intricate dance that's just beyond my grasp. Perhaps that's the point – or maybe it's simply a reflection of Goudal's refusal to provide clear answers in the first place. Either way, The Story of Fixity is undoubtedly a work of art that demands close attention and multiple viewings; whether you emerge from its depths with any deeper understanding of our relationship with nature remains to be seen.
So I'm tryin' to wrap my head around this film, The Story of Fixity by Noémie Goudal... it's like, she's creatin' this whole jungle thingy, but its not really real, you feel? 
It's more like a puzzle, all fragmented and whatnot. I love the way she uses old books and stuff to make these engravings, it's super trippy! 
But at the same time, I'm over here thinkin', "girl, are you tryin' to tell me somethin' or just showin' off?" 
The way she plays with light and shadow is straight fire tho... 
. It feels like she's lost me in the process, but maybe that's what she wants us to feel? 
Either way, I need to watch it again with fresh eyes... or better yet, try to understand what she's really trying to say about our relationship with nature 
.
. It's like she took this beautiful idea of exploring our connection to nature and then kinda... broke it down into a bunch of weird, artistic pieces that are more about showing off her skills than actually telling a story 
. Don't get me wrong, it's still pretty mind-blowing in small doses, but overall I think I need a few more viewings to really wrap my head around what she's trying to say 
. And yeah, it's def got some depth and dimensionality, but at the same time, it's kinda hard to pin down what's real and what's not 
.
. Like, I'm all for experimentin' with new ideas and techniques, but when it comes down to it, what's the point of makin' somethin' if you're not gonna share that point with others? And yeah, maybe she's tryin' to say somethin' deeper about perception and illusion and all that 
... but for me, at least, it feels like a bit too much. Still, gotta respect the artist's vision, even if I don't fully get it 
. But yeah, it's definitely a film that requires multiple viewings and some serious attention 
. Am I overthinking it? Maybe... but I'm kinda proud of myself for even trying to understand it 
.
but then you start to notice all the weird anomalies and inconsistencies. It's like she's trying to make this point about perception and representation, but it feels really heavy-handed. 
Like, am I just not getting some deeper message here? 
but for now, I'm just kinda scratching my head. 
. I get what she's trying to do – subvert our perceptions of reality – but honestly, I'm not entirely sure what to make of it all 
. Maybe that's what makes The Story of Fixity such a compelling experience?
i mean, the artwork looks really cool and all 
either way, i think it needs a few more viewings to figure out