Color Flight is pure anarchy of color and a prime example of Len Lye's stenciled imagery. Sponsored by Imperial Airways (the predecessor of British Airways), it included the airline's “Speedbird” symbol. To the rhythm of Red Nichol's “Honolulu Blues” and a rumba by the Lecuona Cuban Boys, the shapes explore the screen and come to life. Len Lye developed his very own visual style in the New York avant-garde scene from the mid-1930s onwards. Using stencil techniques and simple lines scratched directly onto the film material, he created veritable symphonies of images. When it comes to transferring rhythm into images or creating music from images, Len Lye is definitely the right man for the job.

Loan of the film print with kind support of LightCone.