FUNDACIÓN ZARAGOZA CIUDAD DEL CONOCIMIENTO & AYUNTAMIENTO DE ZARAGOZA present CUERPO EXPANDIDO (EXPANDED BODY) piece produced during ACADEMIA FACHADA MEDIA 2023 a two weeks artistic residence at ETOPIA CENTER FOR ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
CONTEXT
“Expanded Body” is the result of a first stage of research that responds to a strong interest in working with the representation of body and movement in public spaces and unconventional territories on a large scale. In this case in a context such as Media Facade, a unique device whose structure is custom built to cover two of the faces of one of the buildings of Etopia Art and Technology Center. This surface, which broadcasts in a non-standardized resolution, represents both a technical and creative challenge that allows the implementation of different artistic languages and different communication proposals with which to investigate the real possibilities of these new supports that are currently expanding.
PROCESS
This piece aims to construct images and compositions that can convey a question about the nature of what we are really witnessing. Is it a human body in motion or is it some type of creature that connects with our subconscious and with references more typical of science fiction? It was clear to me that I wanted to start from material shot in real images with dancers. To do this, I took advantage of the presence of two great dance artists who currently reside in Zaragoza, such as María Ganzaraín, (La Rioja) and Yeinner Chicas (Nicaragua). I did a shoot with them one morning at the ETOPIA facilities with the help of a chroma key, and in these recordings we were proposing a series of shots, compositions and movements that could fit well compositionally within the peculiar characteristics of the building's façade.
GLITCHING
Once the shooting was done, I started working on different treatments and edits. Starting with some Glitching exercises. I came across a series of visual findings that interested me a lot to delve deeper into that line. These types of interventions are called Datamosh or videomosh and were part of some actions that were explained within a wonderful workshop called “Error as a resource in artistic practice: glitch art, from the material dimension to the digital environment” taught by David Cantarero.
CONCEPT
The theory of the expanded bodies refers to the virtual bodies that we see on screens or in this case on any support or surface on which we want to project. It specifically points out the free character of bodies that are articulated under conditions of time and space typical of image technology. And it suggests the infinite number of choreographic possibilities and aesthetic experiences to explore. A metaphorical degree can be identified that appeals to a being-body in all its complexity, moving with the desire to occupy more space than its biological dimensions, expressing itself as a social body, as a being that expands and conserves itself, both in the archive, as in the body of the viewer and in the collective memory.
MAKING OF
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