Encounter

2020
Full HD video, 13’ 20’’ /colour, sound/

2018
Audiovisual installation, 30’ /sound 15’, silent video 15’/

The main question tabled by this project is how can audiovisual work adapt to a visually impaired protagonist or a participant with a hearing loss. I concentrated especially on developing script based on the idea of meeting and relationship between two people – one is Deaf and the other is blind. Although these characteristics seem to create barriers in their communication, the audiovisual work contrarily shows situations when they communicate, spend time together and do various activities – from watching cinema to dancing or driving a car. Plot of the script refers to historical beginnings of sound film in several moments. The initial moments when sound and image began to be used synchronously appear metaphorically in the artwork which opposes this “audio–visual friendship” and tries to narrate in both – sound and image – separately. Sequence of represented situations is the same but each protagonist is more introduced and present in the channel which can be perceived by his or her. Installation version (2018) is based on split of audio and video – they’re installed in separate rooms. Cinema version (2020) connects these two channels and challenges attention in the moments when information perceived by sight and hearing overlaps.

Cast
Terezie — Alena Terezie Vítek
Mac — Mac Henzl
Audio description – Zuzana Stivínová
Interpreter – Naďa Hynková Dingová

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Camera: Martin Štěpánek
Sound: Jakub Jurásek, Ian Mikyska
Editing: Kristýna Bartošová
Piano and vocals: Ráchel Skleničková
Music and lyrics for Pretty Hands Pretty Face: Ian Mikyska
Dance scene choreography: Mish Rais

Written by: Alžběta Bačíková and Mac Henzl in collaboration with other video participants Translation and revision of Czech Sign Language: Naďa Hynková Dingová

English translation: Ian Mikyska
Image correction: Tomáš Hájek

The work features excerpts from Gustav Machatý’s film From Saturday to Sunday (1931).

The scenes from Villa Rothmayer were shot by courtesy of the City of Prague Museum.

Project was made for the exhibition Jindřich Chalupecký Award 2018 at the National Gallery in Prague. The cinema version was prepared for the Fotograf Festival 2020.