How do we Project?

Artists: Pedro Wainer, Troels Heiredal

Gallery: Studio 406

Dates: June 1st - August 14, 2022

How do we project through the walls around us? How can we generate a different perception of what surrounds us? How can we see our world from a different perspective? How can we abstract everyday objects and project them back into our mind as a new element?

In this installation we aim to create a space for contemplation. A place where the senses can move from their usual state to find a moment of meditation. We, Pedro Wainer & Troels Steenholdt Heiredal, will transform the studio 406 into a space where performers and audience co-create new works. A space to contemplate how we perceive and experience life.

We will divide the gallery lengthwise, by installing a large fabric wall. One side of the wall will be dedicated to performance, the other to the audience. The fabric wall will have a number of different lenses installed, that will transmit the performances through the wall into the audience space—making this space in fact one large camera or projection room.

The lenses in the wall will be spread out along the entire length of the wall. Given that it is a narrow space none of them will be able to project the entire view of the opposite side, each lens will project a particular fragment from the objects arranged on the other side of the room. The projected objects will be representative of the communities that coexist in the Lower East Side, collecting them in an anthropological way from the street and surrounding businesses in the area.

The lenses will project to a number of moveable/adjustable screens, which the audience will be encouraged to move and rearrange, thus creating unique situations to experience the installation and the performance happening on the other side. Moving the screens to capture the image is a magical act, in which the picture seems to be captured directly from the air, as if it were being created at that very moment.

Along with the interactive installation there will be a schedule of live performances throughout the duration of the show. These will include dance, artistic performance, poetry readings, artist talks, and music. The audiences and the performers will engage in a silent co-creation of the work. As the performer moves, the screens will need to respond for the view to be kept in focus, and thus the audience will have to duplicate the movement in space of the performer, mirroring the performer's movements becomes a dance between the two.