REMEMORIES - 5.2

"REMEMORIES plays with memories from anonymous persons, proposing a singular approach through reinterpretation."

>>>> Discover more information on this project on my website: [link]

>>>> You can contribute to REMEMORIES, if you wish: [link]

During this session, we've tried to play with interpretation of the memories rather than doing something too literal.

----- memory #8 ------

On the verge of summer during my high school years, me and two of my closest friends went out to a small playground to hang. It turned into a small adventure when we took a trip down the ditch and into a long tunnel that didn't seem to end. Sure I was afraid. My friends were blocking the light at the end, but when we managed to get to the end we found our little private wonderland under the cookie-cutter neighborhoods. Once the sun had set, we returned to the playground and just sat ourselves on top of the monkey bars and watched the moon and stars. I don't really think I had ever been more happy and at home since then.
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REMEMORIES : Project description.

“I would like you to remember an important personal event, something that still seems important to you today. Actors will then reinterpret your memories.”

From May to August 2012, several anonymous contributors answered my request (through a webpage that described the project), giving me lots of short texts to work on.


Nostalgia, happiness or traumas formed the main components of these numerous memories, from which actors and dancers experimented to create something new, without trying to be literal but keeping the emotions and ideas of the texts. I didn’t wanted to simply reenact the memories (the original texts would have been sufficient for that) but to go beyond them and create singular photos with some freedom, for both actors and me. That is why most of my usual themes are apparent: ambiguity, mysterious symbols and a non-naturalistic approach to the link between bodies and their environment – all of which being freely interpreted by the viewers.

Places are also linked to this idea of “memories”: second-hand bookstore, vintage furniture shop, museum... all these interesting spaces add originality, preventing the actors from simply recreating the description of these recollections.

Finally, when submitting a message, all participants have accepted to let me publish their original text next to the photos. I’ve simply numbered them in chronological order, publishing them in their original language.

REMEMORIES is an on-going project that should be completed by October 2012.

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(c) 2012 JS Monzani / jsmonzani.com. Please do not use any of my images without my agreement. LEGAL ACTIONS WILL BE TAKEN IF YOU DO NOT RESPECT THIS COPYRIGHT