Stadium
The Olympiastadion in Berlin is both setting and protagonist in Stadium. Using a combination of footage shot on location in the stadium, 3D animation created from the architects’ model of the recent renovation, and composite footage of a performer, an uncanny dialogue is played out between architecture and the individual. Amplified by the symmetry and repetition of both space and gesture, Stadium builds a tension between the pedestrian movement of public space and physical ideals reminiscent of early Olympic callisthenic dances and design. The figure’s white costume and a haunting musical soundtrack contribute to the other-worldly sensation produced by the work. A constant interchange between the performer, her surrounding architecture, and their mediation through video, challenges the viewer to redefine their perception of the represented space. The distance between performer, space, and viewer, is reduced via rhythmic, sweeping and multiple camera perspectives, as the three culminate in a swirling, dizzying spectacle.Stadium draws on modernist cinematic and performance traditions in relation to visualizing the mass, fusing these with influences from contemporary music videos and science fiction/fantasy films. It is a continuation of the use of ‘found’ architectures in the work (whether they are representations of natural phenomena or designed architectural spaces) and their relation to human investment by immersion, physical engagement and imaginative contemplation. This work contributes another layer of abstract narration and dramatic tension to on-going experiments with video, animation, and psychological space.www.lynnemarsh.net
