being
there
what it means to watch a performer so intimately? and how are you as the viewer ever fully present?
"Being There seemingly rejects the Sartrean take on being-for-others, or existing purely in terms defined by the Other which is so problematic for her fictional protagonist. Instead, an open invitation is issued to be fully present to a face to face encounter by directly challenging the stance of the audience as uninvolved observers.
When Dyson’s art moves us, it moves us to ethically new positions. We are moved by the naked intensity of the live performers, and even sympathise with the one who is not present. We care for them all, and want to take responsibility for them. This is the possibility for an ethics defined by the philosopher Levinas."
Douglas Leonard - RealTime
This work looks at ideas of intimacy and desire, betrayal and responsibility. woven throughout this work is a commissioned short story about a woman working in a foreign country and her actions concerning love, relationships and infidelity.
We are proximate to them, breathing with them. They are falling women. They really cry, blow their noses, bruise themselves and slap the floor in an anguish which refracts rather than reflects the text. They are so committed that we are plunged to the depth of our own resources of memory and desire in order to meet them, and ultimately to realise that our own moral situation is fatally compromised or at the least exigent. As we leave, we can only match the “uncertain dignity” of Dyson’s protagonist.
For a little while we cannot look each other in the eye..."
this work was developed during a month-long residency at Tanzfabrik in berlin in 2007 and then had two more months work in Australia where it was premiered in december 2007.
the final work was was presented in a massive open theatre, with a white square tarquet and 100 black chairs arranged in an oval. the two performers worked inside and behind the chairs forcing the audience to change their point of view of the work.
CREATIVE TEAM
performers & creators
jess watson-galbraith
trish wood
emily amisano
choreography
clare dyson
lighting design & production management
mark dyson
design
bruce mckinven
original text
siall waterbright
photography
fiona cullen
david berge
clare dyson
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was supported by Arts Qld through a major performance grant and made in partnership with the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts (Brisbane)
premiered in december 2007
at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
this work was created at Tanzfabrik in Berlin during an artist-in-residence fellowship in 2007. it had a draft showing of that process in August 2007 and it was then re-developed in Brisbane for the december premiere
this work is 60 minutes with no interval
audience are seated onstage with performers