INSTALLATION FOOTAGE

From the beginning of this project, I wanted to spatialize the experience of my short films. While the six films have unique content, they all “sync up” at key moments and are connected by Julius Eastman’s Gay Guerilla, which spreads throughout the space as the piece unfolds. Taking place in my basement, I had to think of creative ways to create a circulatory loop in a dirty environment full of ducts, columns, and mechanical equipment. First, curtains were placed on the windows to block out the sunlight, creating a clean slate of darkness. I surveyed the existing surfaces of the basement; concrete blocks, bricks, and reflective surfaces; to determine what would be an adequate projection surface. From here, a system of curtains created a loop that intuitively leads visitors to each of my films. There is an idea of expansion and release as each film is surprisingly revealed. The “Introduction” film unveils itself as one descends down the stairs. The larger “Stage” zone opens up from the entry landing before a flashing red light beacons the visitor into a corridor. The “Rebellion” area takes a claustrophobic, maze-like route before opening up into the most expansive space for “Immersive Fantasy.” While this is the most visually chaotic zone, it is also the quietest, allowing the other soundscapes to bleed into it. Finally, the network of pipes, ducts, and heaters becomes a projection surface for the “Fleeting” short films. Visitors enter through a pair of red curtains and find themselves back where they started. Every loop, therefore, becomes a unique audio and visual mix layering different aspects of queer nightlife.