Infected and Nascent
Gina Czarnecki’s two films Infected and Nascent investigate the beauty and expression of the human body and its politics in relation to new technologies.
In Infected, confined within a circular projection screen a dancer (Scottish Iona Kewney) moves with the distracted, disorientated impatience of a caged animal. As the film progresses, the figure stutters, jumps, blurs, is broken. We observe this image corruption as if by electronic interference. The deformation of the image is analogous to the descent of this once controlled body into trauma. Seen through the circular lense, the twisting body reminds us of frenzied, infected cells watched through a microscope.
Nascent, at once both a film and installation, exists between visual art, experimental media, technology and dance. Images of the Australian Dance Theatre form a complex and dense rhythmic structure creating new traces of movement that appear as blips in transmission or digital ‘vibrations’ where the body and its image tune-in, momentarily, then become ‘unplugged’ leaving behind traces of skin-print as after-images.
Czarnecki choreographs the works in the post production stage, giving her subjects abilities of movement beyond their means. The images are beautiful, reflective of traditional artistic concerns regarding the human form. At the same time, with a sometimes sinister air, Czarnecki communicates the possibilities and impacts of technology and environment on the human body.
Leading musician Fennesz was commissioned to compose the score for both works.
Screening
19 – 21 February 2009 | Temps d'Images Festival, Usine C, Montreal, CA
Gina Czarnecki - Nascent
Produced by Forma and Australian Dance Theatre
Commissioned by Forma and Adelaide Film Festival
Gina Czarnecki - Infected
Commissioned by Forma
