Cutting the body 2013-2015

Cutting the body, 2013-2015

A small video projector is displaying a video on a wall. A small film cutter (guillotine) is placed in between the projector and the projection. The guillotine is assembled with an automatic mechanism (composed by an Arduino and a small stepper motor) programed to move its handle upwards and downwards. The movement is therefore synchronized with the narrative in the video, that shows a long shot of a performer (the artist), stepping in a room, facing the camera, and placing one part of her body (head, arms or legs) on a small white bench. When the guillotine handle moves downwards, obscuring the projection, the performer is placing one part of her body on the bench. When the guillotine handle moves upwards, the projection is revealed again, showing the performer without the part of the body previously placed on the bench. The video and the mechanism continues until all parts of the body are cut off. The installation is always in loop.