My Father’s Paths

3 mobile videos, 1: 00min21, 2: 00min07, 3: 01min40

1 photo of the object

The mobile videos and the photo emerged from an exploration prompted by the question:

Where do I perceive my father/fathers in my being/life/body/future?

Videos 1 & 2 were spontaneously recorded in about 15 minutes at the Film Academy during the second laboratory on the topic of father/fathers. Video 3 was recorded at home afterwards.

The first video shows a left hand with a ring holding a folded piece of paper, slowly unfolding it until it lies half-opened like a slice of cake. At second 14, the video cuts to a new scene where the same hand holds the paper unfolded into a semicircle. The rustling of the paper is audible.

The second video shows two different hands holding the paper fully unfolded into a circle. One hand stabilizes the paper while the hand from Video 1 refolds it. The rustling of the paper is audible.

The third video shows the unfolded paper in an enamel bowl in front of a reflective microwave, in which the upper body reflection of the Artist Researcher is visible. The right hand of the Artist Researcher holds a lighter and sets the paper on fire. The video shows the paper burning slowly in the bowl until it is completely burned, leaving behind ashes.

The photo shows the folded paper on striped paper with a drawing of a circle with smaller circles inside and a line with arcs underneath on a white table.

I would say the first thing that comes to mind is my birth. My life was still untouched, and I was like a closed flower waiting for care from a gardener. Life challenged me, and nature introduced me to the process of growing up. I grew up without knowing that I had fallen into a dark pot (a bowl) and was burned by a hand very close to me. Only ashes remained of me, taking the shape of a phoenix.

What process can I subjectively perceive in my life concerning my father/fathers?

How would I artistically represent this process?

How do I remember my father/fathers?

What influence did he have on me and my biographical narrative?

What sociological experiences can I intuitively recognize in this relationship and memory?