Penumbra (2011)
HD video, colour, seperated sound
5 minutes, 20 seconds
Penumbra (2011) was commissioned by mima, Middlesbrough who showed it in April 2011. The work exists as both audio and video and these two elements were intentionally split across two floors of mima’s gallery spaces. Visitors were invited to move between the floors in both directions as they tried to piece together the sounds and images on display.
The work was developed with the renowned mezzo-soprano Lore Lixenberg and uses Penumbra (2010) as its starting point.
Photo: Biggie Stiller
Photo: Biggie Stiller
Photo: Milton Keynes Gallery
Penumbra (2010)
Performance for any instrument and video camera
Penumbra is a work for any instrument and video camera. 'Penumbra' (from Latin paene 'almost' and umbra 'shade') is the indistinct outer-region of a shadow. For my Penumbra the musician is asked to take an improvised journey across his or her instrument, in search of a clearly voiced pitch. Slowly exploring the instrument, the performer moves gradually towards this whole note - during which an array of sounds, both intentional and accidental, are emitted. Running alongside this aural expedition is an optical one; the performer's movements are paralleled by that of the camera. As sounds emerge, so do images, as the camera's lens scans the surface of the instrument; pulling in and out of focus in duet with the musician.
Penumbra has been performed in a variety of contexts Including Scratch Nights at Milton Keynes Gallery, with Anna Durance and Line Lapelyte; Process New Music Festival, Vilnius, Lithuania with Ruta Vitkauskaite and Kings Place, London with Arco Collective.
© Sam Belinfante 2010/ 2011