Intimate Choreographies. Mapping a new reality

16.11.2022

Immersive multi-channel video installation / workshops

03.11.2022

19:00 - 20:00 Beauty of the Beast - Performance with & by Anton Ovchinnikov
20:00 - 21:00 Immersive multi-channel video installation, concept & artistic direction: Andreea Capitanescu

Since the first days of the war, Ukrainian dancer and choreographer Anton Ovchinnikov has been writing and posting short poems on his personal social media account, in an attempt to remain artistically connected to the traumatic experience of forced isolation, violence, hopelessness and hope, of a trapped and captive body that continues to create a choreography of thoughts in a time that expands with the awareness of the fragility of each hour of life.

The artist's lyrics were a catalyst and a guide for the project "Intimate Choreographies. Mapping a New Reality" – concept and artistic director Andreea Capitanescu. From early September, we selected from an open call, the  co-authors & performers: Alisia Nină, Ciprian Chiujdea, Ciprian Mihăilă-Leotescu, Cosmin Dorian Ilie, Pedro Gafei Aurelian, Vlad Benescu, Lena Sabosia that have performed 12 performative interventions in public spaces in Bucharest, Brasov and Sibiu.

Erika Hera, Silvana Neda, Ioana Băiașu and Ana- Maria Luca, join them in Brasov and in Sibiu by students of the University "Lucian Blaga" of Sibiu, Faculty of Letters and Arts, Department of Theatre Arts: Agapi Andreea, Luchian Alexandra, Müller Lili, Dobre Andreea, Băiașu Ioana, Croitoru Radu, Hera Erika, Neda Silvana, Isabela Haiduc, Ioana Dima, Francesca Garbalau, Gajim Constantin, Jurj Andra.

Excerpts from the poems of the artist Anton Ovchinnikov - translated by Raluca Rădulescu, and texts written by the participating artists simultaneously guided groups of 20 persons through an individual audio system (headphones and receiver/mobile phone). This way, joint choreographies were constructed, which focused on interactions and actions, with and towards those around and the public space.

The performative interventions were documented through surveillance cameras, as the project concept started from the idea that the surveillance/monitoring space can actually generate a deep emotional intimacy, which once translated into the installation, undermines the detached and uneven power structure of technology.

Part of the event, Anton Ovchinnikov presented at Bucharest the special performance "Beauty of the Beast" suggests looking at classical Russian ballet as an aestheticized form of violence against a person and over the body.

Also, the video installation was presented in Brasov, where the artist Aurora Király, curator Andreea Căpitănescu and Vlăduț Iosef, master student at UNATC held 2 workshops on the subject of photography, performance and film.