Screened Out

Double bill of solo performances dealing with over exposure to information, taking inspiration from Jean Baudrillard’s essay "Ecran Total"

"Excerpts of citation without context" was Øyen's debut as choreographer in 2004 in the form of a personal and eccentric text/dance solo, which he created for himself. His delivery of the spoken word in a high speed stream of consciousness is accompanied by a myriad of flickering video images in a piece which sets out to deal with our over-exposure to information and the problems of accessibility.

In 2005 the piece was coupled with another dance solo, "Screened Out", choreographed for award-winning dancer Daniel Proietto. This solo was also based on the essay "Ecran Total" by the writer Jean Baudriallrd.  However, the same problems inherent in the topic were this time solved strictly choreographicly.

The two pieces talk about how the idea of increased individuality through interactivity is a misunderstood concept. We are actually assimilating or adapting more and more : we are so absorbed by what is communicated to us that we begin to feed back the same stream of information. The result is like feedback itself - when the source is too close to the receiver feedback ensues, distorting the transmission and the actual information. 

From the piece:

”We are what we consist of; what is around us, but how do we know that what we consist of is uniquely us? Are the defence mechanisms against the daily information so fought down that it merely streams through us? How do we know in the end if the stream is of our own consciousness?”

In the press:

“Proietto performs an outstandingly sensitive solo; packed with lightening fast nuances traveling around his body. What a dancer!” - Aftenposten

“Optimism is created for continued breakthrough for stage art in our visual culture.” -Aftenposten