Antiguo Edificio de Tabacalera
Madrid, 2011
Video duration: 2:25
Documentary video: Audiovisual production “El Desierto” (Ángel Fernández Santos)
Duration: 3:22
Actor: Juan Martín Gravina
With the help of Ministerio de Cultura de España
To Marcel Duchamp, on the eve of the centenary of (Nu) descendant un escalier
Modernism came to represent the idea of movement in a painting ((Nu) descendant un escalier, Marcel Duchamp 1912). One hundred years later, in so-called post-modernism, movement can only be represented by means of movement. Todays technology surpasses old habits of physical perception and therefore a strong feeling of alienation is caused, incorporated in this, is the separation of the body from space, we seem to be in constant movement, whilst simultaneously being passive receivers as well as transmitters. At the same time neuroscientists are pointing out so far unknown links between physical activity and consciousness.
The projection shows the same space of the Tabacalera in which it is taking place. Inside the projected video, the space is once more projected and this process is repeated infinitely, in a spectacular game of real and virtual architecture.
A naked man crosses these spaces on a Segway (electric transport vehicle with self-balancing mode), whilst recording and tweeting on his mobile phone.
Furthermore there is another dialogue between reality and fiction, when the naked man appears in reality, amongst the audience members whom he is recording on his mobile phone. A little later, a telephone rings, the actor answers it and then disappears again in the fictitious layer, where he multiplies himself and finally all his clones answer a phone call as well.
4th International Forum / Art is Action
PERFORMANCE&ARCHITECTURE
Curator: Ariadna Cantis
Actor: Juan Martín Gravina
Coordinator: Gonzalo Hernández
Camera: Carlos Martín
Sound: Ramón Moreira
Postproduction: Videocamino
Special thanks to: Jesus Camino
Ó Producciones: Julia Gómez Candela and Lilli Hartmann
With the help of Ministry of Culture of Spain