A SHORT STORY OF INNOCENCE HELD CAPTIVE
OUTLINE
DarkMatters is an short story based on a true event. It is the story of a child born to my grandfather from his first marriage. Upon entering his second marriage rumour and heresay tells of a child seperated from her mother who suffers neglect. She dies in unusual circumstances aged six. This is a story of the abuse of power and the potential ongoing consequences.
ACT 1
The connected generations. The spinning child a symbol of ecstacy she offers two flowers, one to the past and the other to the future. Each flower is attatched to a soundtrack - two interpretations of a traditional Indian folk song, one representing harmony the other discord. A microphone captures the ambient sounds of user activity causing the dancing figure to change transparency in responce to the level of noise. If you are loud she becomes invisible and conversly if your approach is silent you are able to bare witness to her presence.
ACT 2
The puppet show depicts Shah Jehan and the Mughal Empress Mumtaz Mahal, symbols of eternal love. A continual exchange of hopes and dreams, love lossed and love gained, blind to consequence. Each presents a flower to the other - a universe in miniature - the two meet in the centre and form a single bright light. Roots branch out of the light in random formations, thorny red roses rapidly obscuring the space between. They form an dense web both beautiful and dangerously repressive.
ACT 3
The focus shifts. The innocent held captive is given voice. Play symbolises freedom of will and boundaries are removed. The user retains the choice to influence the direction and speed of play. The three particles leave a residual trail of their journey. All parts coallese to make a singular whole.
THE BROADER CONTEXT
DarkMatters is a study of:
- the potent role fantasy, selective memory and fiction plays in understanding our past and the impact this rationale has on our future
- the cyclic or palindrome nature of time - does time behave in a linear fashion or can it be seen as a pendulum in a constant forward reverse flow - can history repeat itself?
- the subjugation of innocence and loss of self - the relationship between the mind, spirit and physical state
- the nature of faith, trust and belief in the unseen - is dark matter the collective conciousness of all things throughout all time - can this be considered as evidence of God?
For show details please visit the www.collide-arts.co.uk website.
DarkMatters is commissioned by:
