ANOXIA
Portugal, 2019. HD video projection with 2 channels, sound
with 4 channels, colour, loop.
Video post-production: Diogo Tudela, Jonathan
Saldanha.Camera: Catarina Miranda, Sofia Arriscado,
Jonathan Saldanha.Body: Igor Bisser.Som sound: Jonathan
Saldanha.
Acknowledgements: SOOPA, DRCN, DGArtes, Paula Menino Homem.
In the negative space of human architectures, agents operate that
consume matter and precipitate its destruction. The constructions
of termites and other plagues, in the literal context of the shadows in
which they thrive, behind the woodcarvings and inside the built heritage,
are captured in video. The recordings took place in a contemporary
ruin of the recent past, the Palace of São João Novo, which
housed the Museum of Ethnography and History, up to 1974, and was
then taken by architect Fernando Lanhas until it faded in time.
Jonathan Uliel Saldanha
Sonic and scenic constructor operating
systems in which language,
crystallization, animism and echo
travel between sound, light, space
and gesture. In 2019, he created
the installation “Vocoder &
Camouflage”, the piece “Scotoma
Cintilante”, for a blind choir and
score-sculpture, and “Broken
Field Atlantis”, a concert with a
light score. In 2018, he presented
the piece SØMA, in which a group
of deaf adolescents translates
the recordings of an animist
court of law into sign language.
Simultaneously, he staged the
exhibitions “Behemoth Republic”
and “Dismorfia”. Between 2016
and 2017, he staged the piece “O
Poço”; the light/sound installation
“Oxidation Machine”; the piece
“Plethora” for voice, electronic and
resonant spaces, and the exhibition
“Afasia Tática”. Since 2009,
he has composed a series of
systems for voice, electronic and
resonant spaces: “Khoros Anima”,
“Sancta Viscera Tua”, “Del”, “Silvo
Umbra” and “Plethora”. Director
of the piece “Jungle Machine” and
co-creator of the stage pieces
“Nyarlathotep” and “Rei Trilogy”.
Founder of SOOPA collective
(1999), a visual, performative and
sonic laboratory, and co-founder
of Silo Rumor label. Co-organizer
of the SONORES programme for
Guimarães European Capital of
Culture (2012). Performed at the
festivals Sónar, Primavera Sound,
Amplifest, Out.Fest, Milhões
de Festa, Neopop, Elevate and
venues like Ancienne Belgique
(Brussels), Berghain Kantine
(Berlin), Stubnitz (Hamburg),
Filmer la Musique (Paris) and
Issue Project Room (New York).
Released music on Ångström,
Tzadik Rotorelief, Silo Rumor
and Wordsound. His film/essay
“Máquina da Selva/Mundo de
Cristal” was published by Museu
de Serralves.
www.jonathanulielsaldanha.com
© 2020 Curtas Vila do Conde