TO BECOME THE LANDSCAPE
a personal reflection on art and self
prompted by the OPIA Community Creative Challenge
“You cannot be a poet. Where there is poet, there is no poetry. Where there is no poetry, there is nothing. There’s only division into me and not-me. Where there is poetry, everything is poetry, and poetry is everything. Where there is poetry, poets are also poetry.”
– from FABULA RASA by Edward Stachura, 1979, free translation
What kind of art can we make, if we face our creation process honestly, with no filter, and no claim over the result? How can we create from the point of being part of this world and its expression, and not a detached entity? What does the world want to express through us, as part of its ecosystems?
As an experimental artistic research process, this short film was created by turning the camera back on the filmmaker – literally – and reflecting on the power of this practice.
The film was prompted by the OPIA Community Creative Challenge on the topic of “confronting truth/escaping reality”. In line with the theme, I turned the camera against myself: in an experimental attempt to face my own truth and observe the ways in which I try to hide from it, in my artistic practices and beyond. Part of confronting truth in this project was also coming to terms with the situation, in which I create – as an independent filmmaker with no budget, and a 15-year-old Nikon D90 – the only camera I currently own. I embraced it, using also two analogue vintage lenses (Helios 55mm and Soligor 28mm) to shoot the footage. This meant having little control over the end result – especially given the fact, that I chose to film it both from behind and in front of the camera, with little to no assistance.
Giving up control and accepting what is was a huge part of what this film became.
ART AT THE KITCHEN SINK
artist interview with Tomek Kowalski
[in German with English subtitles]
made on the occasion of Tomek’s exhibition “THE MYTHS OF YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW” – see my impressions-reportage from the event here [Instagram]
AUTUMN DIALOGUES ABOUT AIKIDO
Documentary film in collaboration with Tomek Kowalski
“When I start the movement, I cease to exist – there is only the intention of meeting, receiving, oneness…”
FILM PAGE AND LINK TO THE FULL SERIES
“Autumn dialogues about aikido” is a series of talks with Tomek Kowalski. Tomek speaks from his own experience about the way he sees aikido and its potential – not only as a martial art on the level of technique, but also as a method for finding oneself and the connection with Life.
In 10 episodes, he talks about topics like: being human, psychology, evolution, art, the meaning of dojo, working with a partner, budo, and femininity in aikido. He speaks about the path of a student, the role of a teacher, and about where we can seek inspiration, also on the level of didactics. Tomek raises all of these subjects both on the level of aikido technique and on the level of aikido in life. He proposes a way of understanding aikido on a deeper level. He also reflects about the future of aikido – and if aikido as a form is dying.
This is not your typical aikido movie.
[in Polish with English subtitles]
wild growing sky 