Relative Experience: A Live Translation of MC Escher through Multimedia Choreography
Abstract
My thesis work involved the development of a dance and multimedia work that attempted to translate concepts presented in the art of M.C. Escher to a live performance setting. These concepts included but were not limited to the manipulation of dimension, the development of recursive structures and the tessellation of images. In it, I hoped to present a visual examination of M.C. Escher that reflected both concepts in his work and debates about it, particularly debates regarding his work as an intersection of art and mathematics.
My work culminated in a piece entitled “How the Square Left the Stage,” a twenty
minute dance and multimedia work showcasing various representations of these
elements. I looked at the work of previous choreographers and the ways they have
interpreted and represented such concepts. I experimented with several ideas for
showcasing each concept before settling on a few that not only represented the concept,
but also were able to cohesively fit into a performance piece. I immersed myself in the
use of film projections as a choreographic tool and developed a reciprocal process where
my choices in film worked in tandem with my choreography. I tested the conventions of
the stage space and the dancers in it by playing with their relationships and interactions.
Another feature of my work was the use of mathematics as a creative tool, as I applied
concepts from crystallography and combinatorics to my choreography. Escher himself
noted that he had more in common with mathematicians than artists and indeed, some
artists have found his work too esoteric to be appreciated as art. However, a common
theme running through Escher’s art was life brought to structure; something I found
resonated with me in this creative process. Even working through a theoretical lens, I was
still able to find potent sources of and venues for creativity in the work.
Description
Attached are files of the film of the performance as well as a projection shown during the performance: 1) Close up angle (filmed and edited by Christopher Ward) 2) Wide Angle (filmed and edited by Betsy Speeter) 3) Projection (filmed and edited by Clare Schweitzer)
Keywords
Dance, Mathematics, Choreography, Escher, Projection, Film, Dance on Film