‘Catchings Birds of Paradise’ and ‘Air Traffic’
‘During my studies I have developed a strong fascination for the human body, human behaviour and human communication. ‘Catching Birds of Paradise’ and ‘Air Traffic’ are about enlarging and minimizing human movement through air.’
‘Our human bodies are extraordinarily ordinary. I love watching people walking down the street. Some people walk in a static way, others walk with little jumps. It’s fantastic that we a can walk on two long legs. I started experimenting with the movement of my own body and researched fifty different ways to catch air. With the film ‘Catching Birds of Paradise’ I enlarged daily movements by connecting lightweight bags to the body. Every step you take becomes part of a visual spectacle.’
‘A part of the research developed into visualising the movement of air inside our bodies, the air in our lungs. I began blowing up smaller bags and tested what our lungs are capable of. This resulted in ‘Air Traffic’: a collection of twelve different blow-up instruments. When the air travels through the tubes, the object pulls together and shoots upwards.’
Both projects are part of my graduation collection (Product Design, ArtEZ Arnhem): ‘Catch Air – play it, dance it, spread it’. Through videos and performances with a humorous touch I invite the audience to break with predictable standards.’
More Hanneke Klaver > 05.02.2019
Camera and editing: Tosca Schift