Friday, September 11, 2015

RAW - (Material) #0: Ground Zero





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 




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