ON THE NATURE OF CONTEXT – ISTANBUL

Series of short films | Turkey 2023 | Turkish, English

A collaborative cinematographic project that explores the relation of the social and the spatial in the urban context: community and anonymity; social difference and spatial divisions; politics and public space; gentrification and urban renewal; subjectivity and space; experience and everyday practice from a choreographic approach.

Direction, Camera and Editing: Michael Maurissens
Realized in the frame of the residency program 'Atelier Galata' by the kunststiftung nrw

Istanbul ‘BorisRock’ | 10’

Collaboration with Turkish first generation breakdancer Borisrock, exploring embodied memory and the impact of the urban environment on the dancing body.

Antakya ‘80 sec’ | 14’

Collaboration with Hatay performers Didem Koban and Süleyman Demirkol engaging with the memories of their earthquake devastated home city of Antakya.

Istanbul ‘The burrow’ | 7’

A collaboration based on the performance of actress Şükran Çakmak and the work ’The burrow’ by Franz Kafka.

symmetrical coincidence | 7’

An essay around the work ‘sunset melodrama’ by contemporary choreographer Mellih Kirac.

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The space in between

Dance film | Egypt 2023 | 23’ | English, Arabic

Four people convey their relationships with personal memories and contemporary environments, thereby exploring the shared space and time in which we exist.

In those vacant architectural or spatial settings, although the subjectivity of individuals may be replaced, what remains is the presence of human beings and their constant questioning. Self and reality, memory and dreams, space and time intersect here and mutually define each other.

Direction, Camera and Editing: Michael Maurissens
Co-creation and performance: Lojain Ashraf, Basma Eletreby, Enjy Murad, Ahmed Maraie
Dramaturgy & translation: Basma Eletreby
Vocal art: Monia Salah
Sound engineering: Ahmed Omar
Production: Ezzat Ezzat Contemporay Dance studio