The project was developed through a cross-generational collaboration with the artist’s 80 year old Grandfather, who has practiced and taught the martial art of Karate for over 25 years and holds a black belt 3rd dan grade. Development began with an exploration of learning and evolved into a contemplation of beauty, memory, time and transformation.
Without Mind creates a moving image portrait of the individual composed through an examination of movement and form. Capturing a sense of tension between intimacy and detachment in the handling of the subject the work uses documentation to subtly foreground underlying narratives of vulnerability and strength.
Karate training involves the repeated practice of specific movement phrases or kata (form) until they can be performed without thought and with a clear mind, free from fear, anger and ego, a state known as Mushin. The work focuses on 3 of the advanced kata routines forming a further portrait of memory and capturing the skill, power, agility and focus involved in the discipline. Conventional assumptions of age and deterioration are also questioned as the work unfolds, dissecting time, slowing to reveal the detail of each movement. Familiar representations of the aging body are subverted to reveal a body that is strong, dynamic, monumentally present, dancing an intricate dance with an invisible opponent.
Credits and thanks:
Performance: George Grimmer
Camera, Edit, Post Production: Andrzej Wojtas (Hacksquad)
Camera, Images: Ewelina Aleksandrowicz (Hacksquad)
Sound: Nick Able (Nick Able Music),
Camera Facilitator/lighting: Kyle Heslop
Mentor: Fiona Wright
Filmed at: Dance City
Dancing with Ghosts was developed during a residency with Dance City (Newcastle upon Tyne) and with support from Arts Council England.
Mutations
Mutations is a body of work developed during residencies with the Medical Research Council, Virology Unit (Glasgow, 2008), Allenheads Contemporary Arts (Northumberland, 2009) and Dance City (Newcastle, 2009). The work involved engagement with research at the Virology Unit, studying the microscopic structure and interaction of viruses and their interactions with the host cell. The subsequent residency with Allenheads Contemporary Arts allowed further development of ideas, including the early stages of collaboration prosthetics sculptor Satinder Chumber toward the creation of a prosthetic tail. This modification was worn during a 2-day shoot, documenting a series of movement scores and improvisations, which were developed during a final residency period with Dance City and in collaboration with Fiona Wright and Wendy Erickson.
Taking inspiration form the initial research period at the Virology Unit - the highly symmetrical structure of viruses and their transformative power - the work outcomes are a meditation on notions of beauty, perfection and difference. Focusing on a body, physically and digitally modified and transformed the works take further inspiration from the symbolism associated with alchemy and the alchemical opus. As the body moves in and out of focus, suspended, it is glimpsed, not seen, it is taken apart, re-ordered and replicated into new, exotic forms.
The work has been developed into a number of versions and configurations, currently these include:
Changeling (2010)
A single channel video installation using custom manufactured circular frame and stretched projection fabric to create a portal that is suspended in the gallery space. Development of this outcome was supported by Globe Gallery for a solo show at their Hub Gallery in North Shields (2010).
A fulldome work, developed specifically for immersive planetarium environments with a forward facing configuration. The work was developed in collaboration with Chris Hudson at Centre for Life (Newcastle) and had it's public premier at their Planetarium in June (2010).
The work features a 5.1 surround soundscape by Nick Able and Benjamin Freeth.
Exhibitions/Screenings:2011:
Changeling
Berwick Gymnasium Gallery - solo show to coincide with the Berwick Film and Media Festival 2011
Continuum
Fulldome Festival 2011 (Zeiss Planetarium, Jena, Germany)
IFF Festival (Centro Multimeios, Espinho, Portugal) - awarded “Best of IF’11” in the short films category
Fulldome UK 2011 (Thinktank Planetarium, Birmingham, UK)
Newcastle Science Festival (Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
2010:
Changeling
Globe Gallery, North Shields
Continuum
IMERSA Fulldome Summit (Museum of Natural History, Denver, USA)
Thinktank Planetarium (Birmingham, UK)
ArtPrize (Public Museum, Grand Rapids, USA)
British Association of Planetaria Conference (INTECH Planetarium, Winchester, UK)
Identity Project (Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
Credits:
Artist/Director: Paul Grimmer
Mentor/Outside Eye: Fiona Wright
Movement Research/Director of Photography: Wendy Erickson
Editor: Andrzej Wojtas
Camera: Ian Bailey
Camera Assistant: Aaron Blenkin
Grip: Paul Kemp
Lighting: James Froment
Prosthetic and Make Up: Satinder Chumber
Costume Design: Jo Brossman
Technical Support: Daniel Barella
Dome Technician: Chris Hudson (Centre for Life)
Audio Recorded, Mixed and Mastered: Nick Able Music Studio
Additional Recording: Culture Lab, Newburn Surgery
Filmed at: Dance City
Audio Production on Continuum:
Audio Production & Sound Design: Nick Able, Benjamin Freeth
Engineering, Mix and Master: Nick Able
Additional Engineering: Benjamin Freeth
Audio Production on Changeling:
Audio Production & Sound Design: Nick Able
Engineering, Mix and Master: Nick Able
The Mutations project was developed with support from Arts Council England, Allenheads Contemporary Arts, Centre for Life, Culture Lab, Dance City, Globe Gallery, Newburn Surgery and Newcastle Science Festival.
Changeling
Berwick Gymnasium Gallery - solo show to coincide with the Berwick Film and Media Festival 2011
Continuum
Fulldome Festival 2011 (Zeiss Planetarium, Jena, Germany)
IFF Festival (Centro Multimeios, Espinho, Portugal) - awarded “Best of IF’11” in the short films category
Fulldome UK 2011 (Thinktank Planetarium, Birmingham, UK)
Newcastle Science Festival (Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
2010:
Changeling
Globe Gallery, North Shields
Continuum
IMERSA Fulldome Summit (Museum of Natural History, Denver, USA)
Thinktank Planetarium (Birmingham, UK)
ArtPrize (Public Museum, Grand Rapids, USA)
British Association of Planetaria Conference (INTECH Planetarium, Winchester, UK)
Identity Project (Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
Credits:
Artist/Director: Paul Grimmer
Mentor/Outside Eye: Fiona Wright
Movement Research/Director of Photography: Wendy Erickson
Editor: Andrzej Wojtas
Camera: Ian Bailey
Camera Assistant: Aaron Blenkin
Grip: Paul Kemp
Lighting: James Froment
Prosthetic and Make Up: Satinder Chumber
Costume Design: Jo Brossman
Technical Support: Daniel Barella
Dome Technician: Chris Hudson (Centre for Life)
Audio Recorded, Mixed and Mastered: Nick Able Music Studio
Additional Recording: Culture Lab, Newburn Surgery
Filmed at: Dance City
Audio Production on Continuum:
Audio Production & Sound Design: Nick Able, Benjamin Freeth
Engineering, Mix and Master: Nick Able
Additional Engineering: Benjamin Freeth
Audio Production on Changeling:
Audio Production & Sound Design: Nick Able
Engineering, Mix and Master: Nick Able
The Mutations project was developed with support from Arts Council England, Allenheads Contemporary Arts, Centre for Life, Culture Lab, Dance City, Globe Gallery, Newburn Surgery and Newcastle Science Festival.
