A journal on self and collective healing during a time of crisis
Reflections on a window glass
2020
Re·flec·tion /rəˈflekSH(ə)n/
1. the return of light, heat or sound waves from a surface.
2. production of an image by action of bending or folding back, transformation that involves reflection in more than one axis of a rectangular coordinate system.
3. serious thought, contemplation or consideration, interpretation of what is going on between learning and thinking.
Inspired by Clarice Lispector’s book Agua Viva and by the artistic and literary movements of Antropofagia and Realismo-Mágico, Reflections on a window glass is a video journal offering a glimpse into the possible dimensions of an artist's psyche. A woman's inner dialogue as she grapples with the demands of her outer world, her own sensations, and deepest desires. Her role as individual and as strong member of her community. Oscillating between imagined and actual realities, the videos portray a lyrical documentation of singular experiences by women-artists that are committed to their craft and practice through which they have a significant role in caring for their communities. It is an attempt to offer an opportunity for reflection, spaciousness, generating of possibilities, and tools for self and collective healing during a time of change, uncertainty, and loss.
Witnessing from an isolated silence the clear and distorted perception of the personal and the collective, while social distancing, injustice, and uncertainty flood our bodies and feeds, life seems to go on. This project reflects on the experience of suddenly being confronted with our own reflection and those of multiple faces, histories and places close and far, imagined and real. Affected by light, a window glass offers a soft reflection of oneself, permeated by that which is on the other side.
A reflection like a membrane where images of multiple spaces overlap. Spaces meet and touch. A surface, a screen... a see-through mirror... A blurring of dimensions. Outer and inner, material and digital, individual and collective, virtual and physical. A sense of dissolving into a fluid spectrum where actual and imagined pasts, presents and futures coexist as a new form of perception of our manifested reality and sense of Self. Given this possible global crisis, social atrocities and extensive suffering... How do we better meet such transformations?
Just like the narrator's voice in Agua Viva, these female artists embody their craft immersed in everyday and existential inquiries about their inner and surrounding worlds, reaching out and reaching in; leaving a trace, a mark, a sound, a radical breath that touches and generates change.
Credits:
A project by Guadalupe Martinez
Collaboration, cinematography and editing by Luciana Freire D'Anunciaçao
Chapter 1: CUERPO
Performed by Stephanie Bueno, Chipo Chipaziwa, Sai Di, Jelena Markovic, Guadalupe Martinez, Angelica Poversky, and Dalia Shalabi.
Sound and Narration by Yasmine Whaley-Kalaora
Text excerpt from Clarice Lispector's book Agua Viva
Chapter 2: SKIN
Performed by Jelena Markovic
Chapter 3: TONGUE
Performed by Vanessa Richards and Guadalupe Martinez
Chapter 4: LUNGS
Performed by T'uy't'tanat- Cease Wyss
Chapter 5: BONES
Performed by Jane Ellison
Chapter 6: BLOOD
Performed by Sai Di, Guadalupe Martinez, Jelena Markovic, and Dalia Shalabi.
Text excerpts from Clarice Lispector's book Agua Viva (Spanish translation)
2020
Re·flec·tion /rəˈflekSH(ə)n/
1. the return of light, heat or sound waves from a surface.
2. production of an image by action of bending or folding back, transformation that involves reflection in more than one axis of a rectangular coordinate system.
3. serious thought, contemplation or consideration, interpretation of what is going on between learning and thinking.
Inspired by Clarice Lispector’s book Agua Viva and by the artistic and literary movements of Antropofagia and Realismo-Mágico, Reflections on a window glass is a video journal offering a glimpse into the possible dimensions of an artist's psyche. A woman's inner dialogue as she grapples with the demands of her outer world, her own sensations, and deepest desires. Her role as individual and as strong member of her community. Oscillating between imagined and actual realities, the videos portray a lyrical documentation of singular experiences by women-artists that are committed to their craft and practice through which they have a significant role in caring for their communities. It is an attempt to offer an opportunity for reflection, spaciousness, generating of possibilities, and tools for self and collective healing during a time of change, uncertainty, and loss.
Witnessing from an isolated silence the clear and distorted perception of the personal and the collective, while social distancing, injustice, and uncertainty flood our bodies and feeds, life seems to go on. This project reflects on the experience of suddenly being confronted with our own reflection and those of multiple faces, histories and places close and far, imagined and real. Affected by light, a window glass offers a soft reflection of oneself, permeated by that which is on the other side.
A reflection like a membrane where images of multiple spaces overlap. Spaces meet and touch. A surface, a screen... a see-through mirror... A blurring of dimensions. Outer and inner, material and digital, individual and collective, virtual and physical. A sense of dissolving into a fluid spectrum where actual and imagined pasts, presents and futures coexist as a new form of perception of our manifested reality and sense of Self. Given this possible global crisis, social atrocities and extensive suffering... How do we better meet such transformations?
Just like the narrator's voice in Agua Viva, these female artists embody their craft immersed in everyday and existential inquiries about their inner and surrounding worlds, reaching out and reaching in; leaving a trace, a mark, a sound, a radical breath that touches and generates change.
Credits:
A project by Guadalupe Martinez
Collaboration, cinematography and editing by Luciana Freire D'Anunciaçao
Chapter 1: CUERPO
Performed by Stephanie Bueno, Chipo Chipaziwa, Sai Di, Jelena Markovic, Guadalupe Martinez, Angelica Poversky, and Dalia Shalabi.
Sound and Narration by Yasmine Whaley-Kalaora
Text excerpt from Clarice Lispector's book Agua Viva
Chapter 2: SKIN
Performed by Jelena Markovic
Chapter 3: TONGUE
Performed by Vanessa Richards and Guadalupe Martinez
Chapter 4: LUNGS
Performed by T'uy't'tanat- Cease Wyss
Chapter 5: BONES
Performed by Jane Ellison
Chapter 6: BLOOD
Performed by Sai Di, Guadalupe Martinez, Jelena Markovic, and Dalia Shalabi.
Text excerpts from Clarice Lispector's book Agua Viva (Spanish translation)
Acknowledgements:
A project created by Guadalupe Martinez in collaboration with Luciana Freire D' Anunciaçāo (https://lucianaf.com/), conceived and realized on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) people.
Chapter 5: BONES was shot in the Sunshine Coast, the traditional territories of the Squamish (skwxwú7mesh), Sechelt (shíshálh), Tla’amin and Klahoose nations.
Special thanks to all the talented women who generously participated in this project sharing their energy and knowledge. A special mention to Luciana Freire D'Anunciaçao who contributed with tremendous creative input and energy throughout the project, and to Jelena Markovic for proofreading and offering great suggestions to the website text.
Reflections on a window glass has been possible thanks to the generous support of the BC Arts Council for the Arts
A project created by Guadalupe Martinez in collaboration with Luciana Freire D' Anunciaçāo (https://lucianaf.com/), conceived and realized on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) people.
Chapter 5: BONES was shot in the Sunshine Coast, the traditional territories of the Squamish (skwxwú7mesh), Sechelt (shíshálh), Tla’amin and Klahoose nations.
Special thanks to all the talented women who generously participated in this project sharing their energy and knowledge. A special mention to Luciana Freire D'Anunciaçao who contributed with tremendous creative input and energy throughout the project, and to Jelena Markovic for proofreading and offering great suggestions to the website text.
Reflections on a window glass has been possible thanks to the generous support of the BC Arts Council for the Arts
