Another project I'm working on right now is a new performance piece in development with my colleague, Malcolm Tulip. It is a solo devised work inspired by his journey discovering and reflecting upon the mid-20thc artist and writer, Unica Zürn. It is both a reflection her life and his own autobiography...a bit...sort of. Hard to say.
The framing device it literally that: framed. Unica took several versions of the Wartegg Test, which is composed of eight boxes. Set designer, Vince Mountain, is creating a 9' cube that has projection surfaces on three sides. Projection designer, Jeromy Hopgood is working from Malcolm's prompts and script, images of Unica's artwork, as well as his own responses to the work to create video playing in synchronicity to the audio tracks developed by the sound designer and composer, Cy Tulip. After a research trip to NYC, Malcolm was given a blessing to use her work by the Ubu Gallery which manages most of her original works and notebooks.
It is a truly collaborative work. The clothing has evolved and it is now a process of editing and logistics. During Malcolm's grant writing process, we had to quickly develop a costume budget. A simple hallway conversation led to broad decisions- a male look and a female look, and knowing somehow we would be using Unica's images applied on top. Over the summer, we honed in on a "closet" of components that can be put on or taken off in any order including a tabard, skirt, pants, and jacket.
We've recently discovered the suit simply doesn't need any specific Unica motifs, just the female character's pieces, but I do want to figure out a way to make the suit appear paper-like with torn edges. My current idea is to take photos of torn spiral edges and print them on heat transfer pages, then apply that to the edges of pockets, lapels, and cuffs.
For the skirt and tabard, I'm now collage-ing clear paint elevations for our crafts artisan, Elizabeth Gunderson, to work from. This coming week she'll make some samples to test for color fastness and bleed.
Logistically, the set and the clothes have long elastic strings rigged to both Malcolm's body and the cube frame, both tethering him and used to bind his body in a manner that honors Unica's work as her partner Hans Bellmer's muse.
The show techs in Detroit Oct 21st and then moves to Ann Arbor the following week. So, I'll be posting process photos as we get closer.
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