Artistic Research for "Signals"

The Project

The SIGNALS project aims to deconstruct and reconstruct the representation of taboo feminine gestures to address gender inequality and patriarchal social structures. To achieve this, SIGNALS uses augmented reality and digital image prints to create interactive performances; the audience can scan the images to be transported into an AR space where the performance takes place. Each image is connected to a choreography and an audio, all of them inspired by gestures that are either consciously or subconsciously considered reserved only for a specific gender. SIGNALS combines art, technology, and social critique to challenge social norms and taboos of modern society.

Taboo Gestures

The taboo gestures vary in different cultures and are mainly related to social life. These gestures are either associated with something that is not 'feminine enough' or are considered hypersexual by some community standards. Some example in which we based our research could consider the following :

• "feminine" posture (sitting, standing, walking, running)

• "proper" gestures and behaviour during various activities (eating, drinking)

• gestures and rules during social interactions (handshake, eye contact, facial expressions)
  

App(work in process)

Each gesture/situation will be used a starting point for all the creative elements of the project: the image, the sound and the choreography. In the first phase of the project, every discipline uses the core elements of a gesture/situation and transforme them creatively.

The three elements are combined in an AR environment:

-the image print as a base layer

-the dancer performing on top of it

-the sound connecting the layers

We are currently working on all three as well as an App for the AR function and we are very excited!

Gazes, Charcoal on paper 100x70

Project Research

For the further development of the project we are focusing on three cases -one from each category we identified so far: cat-calling, feminine seating posture, eye contact.

Through our discussions we realised that they experiences are very unique. They tent to vary according to age, culture and circumstances.

That's why we are looking to collect phrases, advices, instructions women were given at any point in their life in order to perform their gender. We would like to collect as many and as diverse as possible.

Please feel free to right us in your mother language. We will categorise the phrases depending on the aspect of femininity they address and use them as a background in the drawings.

Please leave your phrase in the comment(with a translation and/or a comment) or send them to us with an Email.

We really appreciate your help.

The _.mootpoint Team.-

PS.: we encourage everyone with relevant experience to share their own.