City Dwellers #8

At the webpage of Vårskjermfest the following, among other things, was written about City Dwellers #8:

"The original plan for City Dwellers #8 by Tale Næss was to create an immersive space of sound and lighting, which the audience could visit separately or together. When physical encounters were prohibited, Næss had to think again - and look back.

– I went back to the original material for the City Dwellers project, from a visit to Detroit in 2017, she tells.

- When I came back from there, I brought a lot of video material. This was something I could now give the audience access to.

Næss won't hide that it has been challenging to work under the very special circumstances. She still thinks that the situation can contribute to new solutions and exciting choices.

– The journey from an immersive space to a digital screen experience is challenging and exciting, in particular at the pace we must work. It becomes another working method than the usual, where one can adjust as one goes. The choices we make stand, but it hopefully also gives tempo and force to them.

Instead of a physical space, the audience of the digital version of City Dwellers will be given access to visit and examine 16 video clips from the American city, and a sound image composed especially for it, plus a series of recorded texts. It was important for Næss not just to make singular movies, but to encourage the audience to participate in the work.

– I wanted to find a way to present the material, that gave the audience an opportunity to make decisions regarding the space they entered. To decide for themselves what to listen to, for how long and how. I think there is a great potential for live art in digital media. To accept the challenge from Vårscenefest has given me the opportunity to take a little step into this landscape."

SOURCES:

Vårscenefest, varscenefest.org, 10.08.2020, https://varscenefest.org/city-dwellers-8/