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Samudra

2023

installation-performance

bags/ hand-embroidered 100% cotton fabric bags filled with spelt chaff 
tent/ 100% Vi-Bamboo fabric curtain dyed with Haematoxylum campechianum, purple maize, Arthrospira platensis, Indigofera tinctoria, Clitoria ternatea and Hydrangea
100% cotton ropes

sound 35’34”

Samudra is a multidisciplinary work designed to celebrate the greatness of the oceans and the intrinsic connection between humanity and the vast marine world. The title, translated as ‘ocean’ in Sanskrit, symbolises the deep and universal bond between human beings and the oceans, embracing the idea of a cosmic union and emphasising the unity and interdependence of all that exists.

The work, lasting approximately 35 minutes, takes the audience on a sensory journey across
the oceans, from the surface to the abyssal depths. Through a combination of dance, visual and sound elements, and a play of light that evolves from initial brightness to a gradual immersion in oceanic darkness, Samudra offers an immersive and immersive experience.
Two performers interact with 12 bags, representing ocean ecosystems and organisms, embodying the essence of these habitats and organisms through their movements and gestures. These actions create a visceral connection with the ocean itself, conveying to the audience the vitality and beauty of the seas. Each act ends with the symbolic gesture of tying each bag to the blue fabric.
The twelfth bag tied to the fabric transforms this into a tent that symbolically suggests the creation of a shelter, a protection offered by a healthy and vibrant ocean made possible by the connection and vitality of all the ecosystems and organisms that make it up.
Furthermore, Samudra allows participants to deepen their knowledge about the oceans through QR codes on the bags. This educational resource, developed in collaboration with marine scientist Francesca Pasotti, transforms this performance into interactive learning, inviting spectators to actively explore the world of oceans and better understand their vital importance for our Planet.
Lastly, it’s important to highlight that the tent, made of 100% bamboo viscose, was dyed
by natural dyeing using six different plants (Haematoxylum campechianum, Mais Morado, Arthrospira platensis, Indigofera tinctoria, Clitoria ternatea and Hydrangea), thus contributing to the sustainability of the entire project. Similarly, the dancers’ outfits were dyed with the same natural pigments, further connecting the artistic vision with my dedication to environmental responsibility.
In conclusion, Samudra is a work that combines art, performance, education and sustainability to celebrate and raise public awareness of the importance of the oceans.

Click               to learn more about the ocean.

   Art project supported by the Italian Cultural Institute in Brussels and presented during the Diciannovesima Giornata del Contemporaneo, organised by AMACI at the Foundation Volta XL in Brussels.

Samudra, performance at Fondation Volta XL (Brussels, BE)

performer: Alice Tagliaferri, Daniel Tosseghini

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