VIDEO
#0: Ground Zero
date shot – July 26 2015
location – Somos Gallery, Berlin
camera – Margaret Hart
TEXT
RAW – (Material) #0: Ground Zero
Somos Gallery - Berlin
Small room – like living room or bedroom, even had furniture
People crowded in – sitting on couch, mostly on the floor,
some standing – leaning against the wall
Quiet, attentive, supportive, helpful, respectful, obedient
(to instructions)
warm, dark
Soft voices “strip” – whispers & occasionally voiced
… Once buzz of clippers begins – provides tone – voices
begin to join it in a chant – volume increases.
Repetitive Motion – combing through hair with clipper
attachment … hair gradually begins to drop into the floor – gentle, delicate
hand action – repeating the motion over & over again.
I feel everyone is with me.
I realize it is going to take a long long long time if I
don’t recruit my “assistants”
- hand clippers to Robyn
- scissors to Andrea
Voices pick up – adding harmonies
My face is peaceful … they are doing it for me, taking care
of me
I love to be taken care of
They are so kind & attentive – gentle but persistent
- a gentle intensity – a goal must be met
Skin soft in the light
Their lights – some bright & harsh, others warm – some
click on & off like strobes
Gets into a groove & continues – trancedance, chant …
hair piling on floor, skin like porcelain, hair dropping dropping dropping, clippers
buzzing buzz buzz, chanting “strip” “strip” “strip” continues continues
continues, lights on & off, on & off
Robyn & Andrea know to switch places
- when they do … sound becomes more insistent
I smile a soft smile …
Amused by how long it is taking & also that this action
will just take as long as it takes until it’s done … they will stick with me!
Sound softens & slows again.
My eyes are closed most of the time – it is a touch &
sound experience – I see the lights behind my eyelids
Finally all my hair is short & I take back the clippers
to finish by myself … to end what I started …
… action is the same again – repeating same motion – but now
different – hair is gone
Bright, overblown, intensely focused light – this time held
by me to shine on face –
features blown out – ghost – light mask
“Strip everything down to Raw”
Applause
