Dance Like Nobody's Watching is a performance and audio-visual artwork that navigates the intricate realms of surveillance, privacy, and control in the modern age. By seamlessly merging the realms of dance, digital programming, and audiovisual elements, this transformative project presents a mesmerizing experience that challenges conventional notions of observation and participation.
CONCEPT
In an era defined by ubiquitous surveillance and constant monitoring, Dance Like Nobody's Watching invites audiences to reflect on both external surveillance mechanisms and spectatorship as an uncomfortable form of voyeurism. The convergence of dance and digital technology becomes a conduit for examining the fine balance between public expression and private observation, urging viewers to reconsider their roles as both spectators and participants.
PERFORMANCE AND EXECUTION
The quiet streets of Venice provided an evocative backdrop for the performance on November 6th, 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Leveraging an open-camera feed of the street sourced from YouTube, the live performance was streamed on a dedicated online platform, allowing a global audience to engage with the work and its themes. Because of its use of a pre-existing camera, the audience of the work were divided into two subgroups: firstly, those viewers who intentionally accessed the performance's platform to view the work, and secondly, those viewing the youtube camera who encountered the performance without intending to. Dancer Gian Mattia Baldan was shown performing in improvised ways, all within the predefined constraints and alongside a musical soundscape designed by Fernando Quartana.
RECLAIMING SPACES OF SURVEILLANCE
Dance Like Nobody's Watching ventures beyond its artistic boundaries to redefine public and digital spaces as arenas of creative expression. By repurposing these virtual landscapes with an unlikely dance performance, the work confronts the pervasive control mechanisms woven into everyday existence. This reclamation of space transforms surveillance into a temporary stage, showcasing technology's potential to subvert traditional power dynamics.
TECHNOLOGY AND RISK
Dance Like Nobody's Watching employs digital resources to illuminate the complexities of modern technologies. The live streaming of the performer's physical expression serves as a lens through which to examine the development and use of digital data, underscoring the intricate interplay between individual behaviors, technological progress, and market influences.The project's inception and realization occurred through a remote collaboration: Conde developed the work from Amsterdam with a team based in various parts of Europe, thus underscoring the global nature of this work.
IMPACT
The project's resonance lies in its ability to compel audiences to confront the multifaceted nature of surveillance, encompassing external and self-imposed observation. By converging dance, web design, and audiovisuals, Dance Like Nobody's Watching sparks conversations surrounding the boundaries of observation and participation within a digitally charged society. It fosters contemplation on the implications of surveillance and technology while celebrating the profound potency of artistic expression.Dance Like Nobody's Watching stands as an immersive and innovative exploration of surveillance, privacy, and consent. Through the fusion of dance and technology, the project unveils the veiled layers of observation and control interwoven into our daily lives, presenting a distinctive vantage point at the nexus of art, technology, and societal dynamics.
CREDITS
Project by Nicolas Conde
Performer: Gian Mattia Baldan
Collaborators:
Web programming & support: Hernan Levi
Sound design & edition: Fernando Quartana
Production & logistic consultant: Camilla Ferrazzi
Artistic concept consultant: Florence Evans
Special thanks:
Lucia Galindo Pacheco
Fausto Fiorin
Lisandro Eymann
Marek Wolynski
Benedetta Cordioli
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