THIRD: a spatio-temporal choreography that destabilizes our senses

neon lights form the frame of the canvas

THIRD is a collaborative spatio-temporal choreography film between three artists that destabilizes our senses.

on the occasion of his solo show for berlin art week 2021, the french visual artist djeff invited the dancer choreographer ablaye diop and the director gabriel mokayed to immerse in one of his creations dubbed ‘black widow’.

‘black widow’ evokes the idea of a technological trap. the net structure composed of weaved wool yarn fixed at a central point refers to the constant geometric architecture of the tubular webs of sedentary spiders. neon lights are placed on each edge forming the frame of the canvas. a light bulb emitting black light is positioned in the center of the funnel-shaped composition, like a spider on the lookout within its capturing system.all images courtesy of djeff

THIRD: an artificial environment with a limited life

at the crossroads of these three artists — djeff, ablaye diop and gabriel mokayed — was born a spatio-temporal choreography that stimulates viewers’ sensations. the symbiotic relationships found in nature’s intricate web, the invisible forces that structure creative process, and the mercurial dance in which the body and mind intersect are influences that shape this sensitive short film.

the lighting activates by detecting the presence of the public. the light, at first pale, intensifies gradually, and through fluorescence, the weaving of the white yarn metamorphosis into a seduction trap with a hypnotic optic. after a certain time, the light turns off by itself and is reactive only by movement. an artificial environment with a limited life, black widow opens a reflection on the programmed obsolescence, a symbol of a society of overconsumption.

project info:

name: THIRD
artwork: djeff

choregraphy and performance: ablaye diop 

film-maker: gabriel mokayed 

music: sora shima

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.