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International Competition - In Search of a Soul: Spiritual Journeys
Curatorial presentation by Gabriela Lupu
IN SEARCH OF A SOUL: Spiritual Journeys is primarily an internal examination, a reflection on the self, on the divine and demonic nature of mortals, of arts, and beyond that, a desire to transcend them. There are no limits to the exploration of the soul and neither to the techniques through which the films in this program were made, starting from experimental documentary, to animation, CGI and motion capture. The emergence of existential crisis due to the recognition of lack of control over one’s destiny, leads to the recurring theme of the soul-search. If we sometimes doubt that we are spiritual beings and we begin to look inside and outside of ourselves for evidence, these six short films succeed to affirm each in its own way that we have without a doubt a spiritual core.
Soul searching in the experimental documentary VIA DOLOROSA starts with exploring the physical involvement in the ritual process. Observed through close-ups, accompanied mystically by drum rhythms in sync with the steps of men, pain is seen as a transcendent and unifying experience. The film shows in a condensed and intense way, a journey with a transformative role both for the participants and the spectators.
In the next films, classical art forms, expressed in a modern manner and adapted to our age, represent the starting point of the spiritual journey or the destination of revealing the soul's identity.
In THE GREEN SERPENT: OF VODKA, MEN AND DISTILLED DREAMS, vodka, initially presented as a masochistic way to escape reality, and thus to avoid spiritual search, is finally the substance which brings the creative revelation of the soul, making it possible to achieve transcendence and reach quintessence. Surrounded by a note of mystery, vodka alters consciousness, enabling the transition from agony to ecstasy and vice versa.
HKDPGH is a collage-exploration into the deepest layers of the human subconscious. The lack of control and frustrations the faceless character is dealing with lead to an existential crisis, the starting point of a philosophical-poetical hypothesis about identity, perceived as a dream in a dream.
A lack of control ending in an existential crisis is also a common theme in HOWTO, an intriguing video tutorial in which the author gradually loses control over the computer program. Surprising and original, the film combines computerized art and contemporary dance, providing a hypnotic and disturbing experience that urges self-examination. Unlike the others, the film does not show anyone in an intended soul-searching process, but someone unaware of the existence of such a thing, until proven otherwise.
An exploration of the main human emotions that shape the spiritual dimension, BEAUTY is an animation that brings to life classical paintings, in which the human condition is shown in combat with the carnal dimension, subject to the forces of good and evil alike. The subtle manipulation of the paintings highlights the unexpected transformation of the human character that comes with the passage through life.
WHO STRUGGLED WITH THE ANGEL REMAINS PHOSPORESCENT is an artistic testimony of a poet about the link between poetry, magic and inspiration, where poetry is seen as pure soul which doesn’t ask for anything in return. Here, the poet, a servant of divine inspiration, that is both generous and capricious in character, has the power to increase the value of the most common objects. A contemplative piece, this short film shows us Art’s immense power to re-teach people how to see the purest form of Grace in everyday life.
Soul searching in the experimental documentary VIA DOLOROSA starts with exploring the physical involvement in the ritual process. Observed through close-ups, accompanied mystically by drum rhythms in sync with the steps of men, pain is seen as a transcendent and unifying experience. The film shows in a condensed and intense way, a journey with a transformative role both for the participants and the spectators.
In the next films, classical art forms, expressed in a modern manner and adapted to our age, represent the starting point of the spiritual journey or the destination of revealing the soul's identity.
In THE GREEN SERPENT: OF VODKA, MEN AND DISTILLED DREAMS, vodka, initially presented as a masochistic way to escape reality, and thus to avoid spiritual search, is finally the substance which brings the creative revelation of the soul, making it possible to achieve transcendence and reach quintessence. Surrounded by a note of mystery, vodka alters consciousness, enabling the transition from agony to ecstasy and vice versa.
HKDPGH is a collage-exploration into the deepest layers of the human subconscious. The lack of control and frustrations the faceless character is dealing with lead to an existential crisis, the starting point of a philosophical-poetical hypothesis about identity, perceived as a dream in a dream.
A lack of control ending in an existential crisis is also a common theme in HOWTO, an intriguing video tutorial in which the author gradually loses control over the computer program. Surprising and original, the film combines computerized art and contemporary dance, providing a hypnotic and disturbing experience that urges self-examination. Unlike the others, the film does not show anyone in an intended soul-searching process, but someone unaware of the existence of such a thing, until proven otherwise.
An exploration of the main human emotions that shape the spiritual dimension, BEAUTY is an animation that brings to life classical paintings, in which the human condition is shown in combat with the carnal dimension, subject to the forces of good and evil alike. The subtle manipulation of the paintings highlights the unexpected transformation of the human character that comes with the passage through life.
WHO STRUGGLED WITH THE ANGEL REMAINS PHOSPORESCENT is an artistic testimony of a poet about the link between poetry, magic and inspiration, where poetry is seen as pure soul which doesn’t ask for anything in return. Here, the poet, a servant of divine inspiration, that is both generous and capricious in character, has the power to increase the value of the most common objects. A contemplative piece, this short film shows us Art’s immense power to re-teach people how to see the purest form of Grace in everyday life.
