She predicted the weather
She predicted the weather was a live performance and installation commissioned by Sydney contemporary for the performance section.
The performance involved three sculptural rocking boats, a large carpeted square flooring, and a round platform.
The performance had a new score created and mixed live in collaboration by David M Thomas.
Four dancers and an actor performed for approximately 20 minutes with a choreographic scaffolding that had been rehearsed 2 twice. There were 3 performances over the duration of the fair. The sculptures were left as aftermath.
Funding
Australia Council for the Arts
CARI research grant
History
ERA Category
- Original Creative Work - Visual Art
Funding type
- Public funds
Eligible major research output?
- Yes
Research Statement
Background “She predicted the weather” was a live performance and post-performance installation made for Sydney Contemporary’s performance section. It comprised of 3 performative rocking boat sculptures fitted with female mannequin figureheads skewered down onto to metal masts. Three dance performers swung, danced and operated the boats with ropes wearing brightly coloured rectangular neoprene kaftans which the dancers could shrink inside of and create living sculptural forms like snails inside their shell. These costumes hid the shape of their bodies and made it a little more restrictive to dance in. The dancers interacted with the poles and mannequins moving intimately and erratically with the mannequin, breathing into the blowing, breathing, non-verbal sounds in response to the actor reciting Boccioni’s mother poem. Contribution “She predicted the weather” references the futurist artist Boccioni, underscoring a maternal angle not often seen as part of his oeuvre. Williams’ performance work often engages with the early twentieth century avant-garde tradition of dance and performance and in particular the idea of the gesamkunstwerk (the total work of art), that is her work spans the visual and the performing arts. She both builds on and deconstructs this tradition. Her work also examines the currents animating the twenty-first century body Significance The venue, Sydney Contemporary, is Australasia’s largest and most diverse art fair. Williams’ commissioned work featured prominently in the publicity material for the 2022 edition. The project was also assisted through Australia Council funding.Size of work
variableNumber of discrete components
5 sculptural elements, 5 performers and live sound mixerDuration of performance
approx 20 minutesPerformance size
- Group
Number of work performers
6Estimated size of audience
1000'sAuthors of work performed
Justene WilliamsExhibition date from
2023-09-08Exhibition date to
2022-09-11Did the work go on tour?
- No