Revoking The Gift

Performance door Jager / Ferdinando

9 Apr 2011
  • 20:00
  • OutLINE
  • Oetewalerstraat 73, 1093 md Amsterdam

Saturday night, 9 April, 2011 a special performance is to take place: Revoking The Gift, a cooperative project of artists Dirk Jan Jager and Simon Ferdinando. A luminescent, naked man, as depicted by William Blake, Tiepolo and Rembrandt will present himself. Intense lighting, produced by welding apparatus, creates an intense shadow play. There will be a “physical” experience of light. A gamelan played by Clara de Mik will accompany the spectacle. Free entrance, show starts at 8 pm.

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Revoking the Gift - Image found on outLINE , made by Jager/Ferdinando

The full title of the performance is: “Revoking The Gift: if it’s hell for leather, then what’s the point of heaven?”. The Jager / Ferdinando duo developed a concept in which the artists are performing inside the building, while light and sound produced can be experienced outside.

Inside cold and heavy metal is transformed into light, by welding machines. In this light the artist aims at making analogue photographs of himself. It is hell, as a consequence of intense UV-radiation, extreme temperatures and toxic fumes.

Lookers and listeners are to be seated on a purpose-built stand. At first the building looks totally closed. Windows are blinded with gold foil, in total darkness. As soon as the welding gear is switched on, it becomes clear what is going on inside. This makes the onlookers to physically experience “light”.

Jager / Ferdinando consciously went for a general public project. Not just hard core art people, but also neighborhood people and young people seldom if ever coming into contact with art are invited to take their places on the stand.

The male body is central for Jager / Ferdinando. They show situations of embodiment. Naked welding is the thing of this occasion. The act of welding is isolated: nothing materially, be it sculpture or any other construction, is being made. Creating extreme light is the one and only issue. This light is used to create living window silhouettes, like wayang effects of darkness and light.

Revoking The Gift is to put old traditions of shadow play in a new light. Live gamelan music will be part of the performance.