"A digital live dance-theatre performance designed for Zoom Webinar format that explores space, presence and connection in one ground-breaking event. Conceived and developed during the lockdown in Chile Deshacer el Rostro (To Undo the Face) is performed entirely from the artists’ homes and streamed to audiences online. Inspired by French philosopher Gilles Deleuze’s idea of 'undoing the face' as a gesture toward imagining other possible worlds, the piece examines the digital medium’s capacity to cultivate meaningful encounters and shared experiences, regardless of geographical location."
It's an interesting concept is it not? And indeed, the opening is far and away from the usual single camera set up, locked off in front of a dark stage. A matrix or chequer board of nine boxes each filled with an individual's reaction to the setting and situation. It's black and white and it immediately captures the attention. The pace is slow or gentle according to how it engages with you. the immediate feeling is that this is an interesting experiment, an alternative and creative approach.
There are transitions throughout the piece, the matrix reduces, expands and colour is introduced. Sadly, the subtitling works only intermittently and disembodied voices which flow from the video occasionally have no meaning unless you speak the language - I did not.
I found the piece to lack much growth or development despite the scene changes, the proposition remained the same, nine dancers or interpreters each free forming the setting. It's fourty minutes long and with no cohesive recognisable theme it can be a difficult watch. But none the less overall I liked the performance, it's creative, innovative and I would genuinely like to see this type of work developed further.
Delivered Online
Show Time: Anytime
1 -25 Aug
Ticket prices: Free
Tickets: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on?search=true&text=Deshacer%20el%20Rostro%20(To%20Undo%20the%20Face)%20Online%20on-demand