Drowned (2014)
DROWNED tells the tale of an uncorrupted body that is found on the beach by village girls. They carry him back to their village, where he becomes an idol to adore, an altar to decorate, a lover in dreams, a disrupter of all life, and finally a sacrificial animal that brings peace. Like a fable that might have been told around a fire, Drowned explores the shady line between life and death, between rage and love, between harmony and the chaos of life.
The form of the piece is both a concrete narrative and a visual meditation that floats from a watery deluge to sandy, barren landscapes, from worshipful adoration to erotic longing. Live dance, projected video and photographic imagery, and an original score engages the audience with a new genre of visual storytelling by amplifying the physicality and interaction of pure body movement and patterns of connection with projection, color, voice, and sound. The entire production is large, layered and hypnotic, and floats in the space between performance art and installation, film and physical theatre, dance live and projected.
• About the Collaboration
Drowned was inspired by Chase’s desire to augment her richly resonant dance theater work with elements from her large-scale performance installations, to forge a new, more immersive stage aesthetic. The collaborators all have a history in theater — visual storytelling informs their work — and a dedication to in-depth experimentation. They also share a deep interest in magical realism and its exploration of the unreality in reality.
• About the Collaborators
Sean Kernan (Photography) is a widely exhibited photographer. His many exhibitions include: Whitney Museum (New York), Centre Regional de la Photographie, France; Biblioteca Alexandrina, Egypt; William Benton Museum of Art, Connecticut; Friends of Photography (San Francisco) and in museums and galleries throughout Mexico and Greece. His work has been published in the New York Times Magazine, Smithsonian, New York, Harpers, and numerous publications abroad.
Derek Dudek (Cinematography and Video Editing) creates both moving and still imagery. He has worked as a Director of Photography for MTV, on many Law and Order episodes and on music videos. His film credits include Director of Photography for the independent film 'Welcome to Earth,' which won best science-fiction feature at the Houston International Film Festival. His still photography project, Language of her Body, received Richard Hess Spirit of Creativity Award and the Connecticut Art Directors Club Gold Award and. His honors include 2009 and 2010 Telly Awards for video.
Length: 20 minutes
Performers: 7
Music: Paul Sullivan
Costumes: Alison Chase/Performance
Lighting: Stephen Strawbridge
For additional information, please contact director@apogeearts.org.