lucy ellis



Cameraless animation on 35mm clear film and stop motion 16mm bolex footage, optical sound CARS! is a suite of three micro shorts made over 2022 to 2026. 

acts of repetition in cycles and walking round with a camera  
creating the motion of a car through speed and stop motion 

CARS! is built through an act of repetition, with over 600 cars hand painted onto 35mm film. As the images build up, the car shifts from a singular form into an accumulation, reflecting the dominance of these autonomous objects within urban space. Next to this, the work draws on graphic symbols from road systems such as lane markings, signage, and traffic patterns, where bold, functional designs become dulled and contaminated, echoing the effects of physical wear.

The process is shaped by the material limits of film, where ink sits on the impermeable surface rather than absorbing, requiring repeated layering to build up saturation. This method mirrors the accumulation, while the rapid movement of the film produces a continuous flow of repetition and motion. Filmed street textures and markings introduce signs of erosion, where clean graphic systems break down into worn, imperfect surfaces.  The work brings together repetition to build saturated density, alongside the resulting decay, positioning the car and the film strip within cycles of accumulation and wear.


Screenings: 

G.G’s X EXIT Film Screening
Adriatikino Screening, Fermo Italy

Judder, Scope Berlin
Film strip