Sarah Miles: Magnificent Rey

Sarah Miles’ films have been widely exhibited, including at Arnolfini, the Tate and the Pacific Film Archive among other places. Miles was one of three artists commissioned to respond to the theme of Remote Sensing: outlook and observation. The project was devised by South West Media Development Agency, Picture This, Spacex Gallery and Prema and it was funded by the Arts Council of England’s National Touring programme with additional financial support from South West Arts.

Inspired by Thomas Hardy, Magnificent Rey focuses on an encounter between two women, Florence and Rey, one older, the other younger, who sense a narrative whilst exploring nature in a runaway, vagabond western. The film was shot on location in Bridgport, itself called the wild west by local people, and mixes documentation of local girls, farmers, housewives, cast as extras in the women’s journey, describing their ambitions and dreams, with the two women on their western adventure.

Remote Sensing: outlook and observation was published in collaboration with SWMDA.

Exhibition:
19 October 2000, LUX Centre, London
Prema Art Centre, Gloucestershire
12 - 28 October 2000, Spacex Gallery, Exeter