See more photos from the performance here and here

 

ABOUT INTROSPECTION

Tomo Mori was inspired by memories and emotions when she created the painted installation. I decided to build the movement vocabulary for this piece out of my own memories. Here are my memories; they include colors because I remember these moments in snapshots - or maybe GIFS - rather than full movie-style scenes:

 

NYC Yellow Cab. Spring. Night.

It was unexpected but as it unfolded, felt completely natural. Going home felt like running away.

black. navy. murky orange.

 

 

Italian Mountaintop. Summer. Afternoon.

Floating on the edge of sleep. Curled in the corner of an arm in speckled shade with a full belly and tired muscles. Blissfully content.

light green. grey. dirty white. sky blue.

 

 

NYC Upper West Side Balcony. Fall. Afternoon.

Stunned stillness broken by a cautious taxi driving slowly. Just two people sitting in the park, barely moving. A large grey cloud in a bright blue sky. The calm quiet was terrifying.

green. blue. black. orange. grey. white.

 

 

Lucy Vincent Beach. End of Summer. Afternoon.

The waves played their infinite game of give and take, drowning out all other sounds. I gently waved my hand over the surface of the sand, making small hills, flattening them out, making small hills, flattening them out. I watched my sleeping cohort and thought, “these people. I love these people”

tan. beige. off white. soft grey. blue.

 

 

Bathroom In A Brooklyn Apartment. Night.

So upset that my stomach muscles contract, hollowing me, folding me into myself. Here is where I discover the origin of Martha Graham’s signature move. I’ve locked the flimsy door that was once attacked by an angry dog, but I should have left.

brown. black.

 

 

Vermont Forest. Winter. Afternoon.

On cross-country skis, perfect powdery snow, pockets full of clementines. Pops stopped to kiss a gnarled trunk, saying we had to pay our respects to the tree spirit.

white. dark green. brown. orange.

 

 

Dance Studio In Korea. Summer. Late Afternoon.

Trenard, teaching his combination to a large group of disciplined dance students, was overflowing with energy and enthusiasm. He was delighted with the sass his choreography brought out in me. He died unexpectedly eight months later.

dark brown. beige. bright yellow.

 

 

Menemsha. End of Summer. Day.

Walking in circles over smooth pebbles, practicing. It was windy and I didn’t want to be anywhere but there.

white. blue. burgundy. tan.