Slow Service (2003)
Single-screen video (SD)  Approx 6 mins.
Permanent Collection: Australian Centre For the Moving Image

'This series of video portraits depicts strange amorphous shapes moving towards a person on screen. Shot on a high-speed digital camera normally used to film mine detonations and military tests, one second of real time becomes 40 seconds of screen time. In this elongated moment, we see the transition from artificial to natural, the subject's formal pose involuntarily changing in reaction to the food hurtling towards them.'

2004-Australian Culture Now Catalogue


"Then descend into the dark depths of ACMI where the other artists dwell. Here Marcus Lyall’s video Slow Service, 2003, is essential viewing. Filmed at 1,000 frames a second then played back in excruciating slow motion, a succession of sitters have food thrown in their face – custard, pasta, tomato sauce – offering but a hand or squint in self-defence. Audiences better get used to it. “2004” is a visual pie fight."

Michael Fitzgerald, Time  Magazine