Transposed from Ben’s poem:
Black Well
At the bottom of the well I gaze
down, deeper into the abyss that holds you
the shape of your body clear
distinct from the nothing about us
Your movements mesmerise, the echoing
of your bare flesh against the walls
of our prison
make me think of home
I reach for you
but fall short, my actions more frenzied
as the distance between us remains fixed
yet
yet
yet
yet
I scramble across the surface
Feeling the texture of nothing
Caress, splinter, burn and soothe
All at once
Returning to inconsistency
Then I go down
Now falling
Will reach
Can’t touch
Won’t breathe
I need
Want
Hate
Felt
Your skin, so cold
Be never stilled
else swallowed by the abyss
‘ caress, a soundless abstract
Warmth amongst black
I lie alone, gazing up
Into the dark
Wow, both of these works are so evocative. Very rich with texture. It’s so interesting to observe where the language and the image meet and then how they peel away from one another, and the quality of the space that creates. I’d love to see a version of the film that includes the poem!
I can definitely see how your works are interconnected, they each share a sense of uncomfortable intimacy and tension. The motif of bodies was a really interesting choice, and one that, again, tied each piece of work together.
I wonder what the reasoning for the use of black and white was in the videos. Was it just an aesthetic choice, or did have some deeper meaning/theme?
Both poems are captivating, filled with beautiful descriptions of darkness and solitude. Each of your pieces are great separately, but I really enjoyed viewing them in the context of each other. Great work!
I agree with Smiljana and Zahra that you can definitely see how these responses are connected but you have done it in a way that has also allowed for there be space remaining between, like Smiljana mentioned.
I really enjoyed the ways this allowed for me to bring together different areas of the poem and conclude multiple meanings from them.
Great job guys!
ps. Also glad to see you figured out how to do the superimposition Leanne! haha
I love your use of transposition and the alterations of rhythm throughout the piece. The overlapping videos with slightly different timing was very mesmorising and I love that sense of awkwardness it gave.
The cuts from the arm to the back near the end of the work was one of my favourite momements – I’m not sure what it was but the timing and rhythm and repitition was increddddd