ABOUT PERFORMANCE
18+
Premiere June 23, 2012 ATHENS FESTIVAL
Length: 1.20
As Greece experiences a severe economic and social crisis, and Europe and the United States undergo detrimental shrinking of national arts funding, Dimitris Papaioannou embarks on an artistic and personal challenge: a project using the least possible means—an experiment investigating personal and national identity.
Primal Matter is an optical illusion created by two isolated bodies on stage, which are used as the starting point in this exploratory journey of balancing our physical existence (body) with our second nature (soul), at a time when the issue of paramount concern is, ultimately, what is indispensable—what constitutes the essence.
Since 1984, Dimitris Papaioannou, an avant-garde stage director, choreographer, and visual artist, has worked across the boundaries of theater, dance, and the visual arts. He drew international acclaim with his creative direction of the opening ceremony of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, where similar to this project, he dealt with the challenges of Greek national identity within the scope of a world community.
May not be suitable to all audiences because of one performer not being dressed.
Produced by the ATHENS FESTIVAL (2012) + 2WORKS (2013)
With the support of the EXPERIMENTAL MEDIA AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER (EMPAC), New York
The music heard during the performance is a “taksim” improvisation on the bouzouki by YIANNIS PAPAIOANNOU.
With the support of Goethe institut
www.dimitrispapaioannou.com