Sara Rajaei – In the gaze of Panoptes
Publisert
SARA RAJAEI
In the gaze of Panoptes (2016)
Single channel video installation, color, sound, 20 min.
Over a period of nine years, BEK has been following the artistic ouvre of the Iranian born and Rotterdam based artist Sara Rajaei. Her work was first presented as part of a touring video screening program in 2007 as part of the “At Home in Europe” Curlutre Europe EU funded project that BEK was part of. In 2012 a first exhibition at 3,14 provided an introduction to Rajaei’s practice featuring, at that time, both early and recent works. For the second viewing, Rajaei presented exclusively new pieces. As the latest round, BEK and 3,14 are delighted to present the video In the gaze of Panoptes, developed and produced in Bergen under 3,14´s artist in residency program, Circulating AiR, in collaboration with BEK. Rajaei’s work is often grounded on the concept of time, memory and story telling. Rajaei studied at The Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and attended the two year residency program at Rijkakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam.
In Torborg Nedreaas’ Nothing grows by moonlight, the passing of time and the quality of light play important roles in the development of two parallel stories; meanwhile as the protagonist tells a life story within the safety of the walls of a stranger’s house, the narrator presents the reader a detailed description of the quality of light outside of that haven; evening light, the dark of the night and early morning… recreating the circumstances and the sounds which occur by the passage of time… As the morning light appears, the protagonist finishes the story and leaves…
In the gaze of Panoptes is a short film inspired by the book Nothing grows by moonlight both by its approach to storytelling but also by its light influence… In May 2016, fifteen Bergen based individuals from different parts of the world, were invited to take part in the project and to share their life journeys in exchange of a chapter of the book being read to them. The plot of In the gaze of Panoptes is a blend of all those destinies which cross but meet one another in certain moments…
Like the character in Nothing grows by moonlight, the protagonist of the film also deals with issues such as departure, arrival, home, identity and solitude… following a 7-year-old lucid dream… transforming from the cityman to the caveman, taking refuge in the nature… becoming the perfect observer of the light… the watchman… the giant with hundred eyes…
Curated by: Trond Lossius & Malin Barth
Supported by: KUP–Hordaland Fylkeskommune, Arts Council Norway, CBK Rotterdam, BEK and 3,14
Produced by: BEK and 3,14
[CIRCULATING AiR is a three-year KUP artist in residence project that traverses the county. It springs out of 3,14’s desire to contribute to innovation, collaboration and artistic engagement and competence throughout the cultural field and region. The initiative aims to develop venues and opportunities for artistic development with emphasis on the interaction between city and rural areas, local and international spheres, the professionals and the public. By direct invitation, 3,14 curates profiled international artists inclined to work site-specifically. The artists commit to developing site-related work during their stay, establishing a dialogue with the hosting community in various ways. At 3,14 we are now be proudly screening two separate projects developed under the program.]