Abismos
Common sense tells us that our existence is nothing but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness. – Vladimir Nabokov
Abismos is a multichannel, quadraphonic performance presented live on September 11, 2022, as part of the Festival Ruido. This piece, crafted by artist Sol Rezza, delves into the interaction between darkness, space, sound, and the human experience in relation to these concepts.
Throughout history, humanity has harnessed the potential of darkness to heighten the senses and deepen our understanding of time and space. However, in contemporary immersive experiences, our interaction with darkness has evolved to the point that the immersive experience of entering “the darkness of a space” is almost forgotten.
This performance was a unique interpretation, intended to be a fleeting piece with records preserved only by those who witnessed it in the Salón de Honor of the Kirchner Cultural Center on September 11, 2022.
The piece explores the seductive and complex nature of darkness, where time and space blur, and life and death intertwine as a singular principle. Through elements such as the flickering pulse of fire and the guidance of sounds in the darkness, the performance echoes the transitory nature of existence, symbolizing the interaction between light and darkness.
“Common sense tells us that our existence is nothing but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness. It was the flickering pulse of fire in the beginning. When the flames that burned provided warmth, lights and shadows of imagination emerged from the breath of a spark. We walked disoriented in the darkness; at that time, sounds advised us.”
“Common sense tells us that our existence is nothing but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness.
Photography. A simple play of light on darkness.
In the early photographs, the midpoint between these two entities created particularly atmospheric and ghostly images. Our technological eyes cannot imagine an era without sharpness.”
“Common sense tells us that our existence is nothing but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness.
The bright world darkens, and everything around it seems like the fleeting image of a shadow.
We are creatures moved by contrast and change.
The concept of darkness is what allows us to make comparisons.”
“Common sense tells us that our existence is nothing but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness.
The abysses of darkness are the limits of the world that embrace and marvel us.
There are plants that bloom only at night and fish that live in the darkness of the ocean.
Birds that rely on luminous signals and beetles that can navigate through the darkness of the Milky Way.
We have relentlessly increased our capacity to illuminate the night, comparable to the pursuit of knowledge.
But darkness remains that seductive, complex idea. Where time and space dissolve, where death and life are one principle.”
Live Performance: Sol Rezza
Premiere: 11.09.2022 Festival Ruido, Centro Cultural Kirchner, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Original Title: Abismos ©
Year of production: 2022
Running time in mm:ss: 17:00
Audio: Multichanel 4.0
Idea and realization: Sol Rezza
Voices: Abril, Graciela, Eulalia
Technical Support: Technical team CCK
Producer: Festival Ruido
Manager: Franco Falistoco
Photo: Susi Maresca, Adán Jones