Maya's Rapture Installation

"I sailed to find her, in distant regions likeliest to hold her whom I desired above all things to know, the muse, the woman of the mirage and echo".-Robert Graves.

As a performance video artist, I use my body as a moving sculpture that resonates with eastern and ancient postures, and philosophies. My work explores the sensuality and feminity of the female form that has been lost in this postmodern society. Deep within the deserts of my subconscious you encounter "Maya" my Alter Ego. She waits in loneliness within a timeless world, for you to leave the minimal, gallery space and be enraptured by the floridity.

Maya means magic and illusion
Pronounced M-eye-ya not M- ay-ya.

This whole piece consisted of one projector playing a 20 minute video performance on a loop, two t.v monitors playing videos of henna being painted on hands and feet and a space decorated to look like a bedouin tent in the desert to give the impression of walking out of a gallery space and into a desert like location in my psyche where the viewer meets Maya. It took me over 7 months training in Ashtanga Yoga, Basic Odissi and Mudras, researching themes on temple dancers, fertility rituals, Jungian archetypes and Indian Philosophy....Alot of work went into this performance piece- it is not just a dance, this is another personae and location within my mind.
I have 2 videos showing the making of and 1 video showing people's reactions to my installation at the degree show but I didn't get a chance to put a short video together just show casing the Installation by itself so this is what this video is. Just showing "Maya's Rapture" in its space. It is a quick video I put together to help me practise with Adobe Premiere and to give a glimpse of what the installation looks like in its entirety.
The original footage of "Maya's Rapture" was edited on Final Cut.
The soundtrack and quotes were edited together on a loop with Audacity so that whilst watching the installation there would be a constant flow of sensual music.

I am currently working on a new project that works with the themese of death, letting go, dreams and heaven and hell.

Inspired by Shirin Neshat, Joan Jonas,Pipilotti Rist, Shannyn Sossamon, Mira Nair and Bill Viola.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• katie
• Ness
• Artist
• video
• projection
• performance
• art
• henna
• split
• screen
• dreams
• spiritual
• alter
• ego
• Maya's
• Rapture
• room
• installation