Lynette Wallworth - Evolution of Fearlessness
15 - 25 January 2009
Sundance Film Festival
Park City
Utah, US
Abhaya in Sanskrit means fearlessness, the Abhaya mudra symbolizes protection, peace, and the dispelling of fear. The gesture is made with the right hand raised to shoulder height, arm bent, and palm facing outward.
Reading Buddhist Art: An Illustrated Guide to Buddhist Signs and Symbols
(Thames & Hudson, 2004)
Evolution of Fearlessness is an intimate‚ interactive installation that responds to touch. The installation is created as a sequel to Wallworth’s earlier work Invisible by Night, 2004. Together the two works deal with loss and its aftermath, survival and beyond that, strength.
In creating this work‚ Wallworth filmed portraits of 11 women residing in Australia‚ but originating from countries such as Afghanistan‚ Sudan‚ Iraq and El Salvador‚ who have lived through wars‚ survived concentration camps or extreme acts of violence. The work focuses on a state beyond terror and loss most closely akin to mercy.
Built around the importance of gesture‚ Evolution of Fearlessness provides a tactile gateway to the living women contained in the piece‚ whose stories we are given glimpses of but whose lips do not speak. The work is an intimate reveal of the strength of the human spirit.
Evolution of Fearlessness will feature at New Frontier at the Sundance Film Festival. Initiated a few years ago, New Frontier champions the expansion of the craft of cinematic storytelling beyond what is traditionally found in theatres. New Frontiers 2009 will therefore present provocative, visual pieces from the world of fine art.
Commissioned by New Crowned Hope
Produced by Forma
Related Links
Lynette Wallworth
Duality of Light (solo exhibition)
Diary
