INTERFERENCE / INTEREFERENCE<:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::>
Selected Films and Video as Director (selected screenings)
PRAGMATISTS
interactive staged translation // "phantasmatic-problematic" VR exorcism
Pragmatists is a phantasmagorical chamber drama that StanisÅ‚aw Ignacy Witkiewicz (Witkacy) wrote in response to William James′ philosophy of pragmatism—often called the most American philosophy. A new translation and theatrical rendering—in development by Zbigniew Bzymek and Andrew Maillet—explores the integration of VR technology into live performance by asking what would happen if Witkiewicz's tormented hero, the artist Plasfodor, were brought back as an exciting new VR experience.
Over the course of a formally dislocated reading/exorcism, the translators serve as attendants of the VR, which simulates the ecstasy and anguish of the creator's experience. Does crossing boundaries in creation always come with a price? Even in the virtual realm, where territory is limited solely by the imagination, the death throe refrains of muse-making and over-determination are endless and everywhere. Will a pragmatic simulation in the world of Pure Form serve to get it out of our systems?
Pragmatists: A Proto-VR Adaptation
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Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College
February 2018
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Based on Pragmatists by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz
Translated, devised, and performed by Zbigniew Bzymek & Andrew Maillet
Lights and Projections by Camilla Tassi
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Presented by the Dartmouth Digital Musics Department
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Review in The Dartmouth
PRAGMATISTS in progress ...
Pragmatists: A Staged Reading with VR
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The Performing Garage, NYC
October, 2018
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Based on Pragmatists by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz
Translated, devised, and performed by Zbigniew Bzymek & Andrew Maillet
VR by Marta Nawrot and Jagoda Wójtowicz
Lights by Hao Bai
Set by Julia Torres
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Made possible with support from the Adam Mickiewicz Institute (IAM)
Pragmatists, Or Useful Artists
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3rd Stage, Teatr Powszechny, Warszawa
January 18-23, 2018
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Produced in conjunction with Dream Adoption Society
"There are two ways out: either be the thing that flows, or be the screen upon which the flowing creates a fleeting image. Which is more essential?"
Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, Pragmatists
PRAGMATISTS
"phantasmatic-problematic" VR exorcism
devised/directed by
Zbigniew Bzymek & Andrew Maillet
Pragmatists [1919] is a phantasmagorical chamber drama that StanisÅ‚aw Ignacy Witkiewicz [Witkacy] wrote in response to William James′ philosophy of pragmatism—often called the most American philosophy. A new translation and theatrical rendering—in development by Zbigniew Bzymek and Andrew Maillet—explores the integration of VR technology into live performance by asking what would happen if Witkiewicz's tormented hero, the artist Plasfodor, were brought back as an exciting new VR experience. It is an attempt to re-queerify the Polish avant-garde of the 1920s.
Over the course of a formally dislocated reading/exorcism, the translators serve as attendants of the VR, which creates the environment to simulate the ecstasy and anguish of the creator's experience - addressing Witkiewicz's theme of automatic creation with a complex interactive sound and video patch that addresses the theme of artist-muse within queer experience, trying to place Witkiewicz's Theatre of Pure Form towards the dimensions of identity politics in contemporary media space and the ideologies that pervade us in a newly-spawned/promised gay culture/future.
PRAGMATISTS in progress ...
Pragmatists: A Proto-VR Adaptation
​
Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth College
February 2018
​
Based on Pragmatists by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz
Translated, devised, and performed by Zbigniew Bzymek & Andrew Maillet
Lights and Projections by Camilla Tassi
​
Presented by the Dartmouth Digital Musics Department
​
Review in The Dartmouth
Pragmatists: A Staged Reading with VR
​
The Performing Garage, NYC
October, 2018
​
Based on Pragmatists by Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz
Translated, devised, and performed by Zbigniew Bzymek & Andrew Maillet
VR by Marta Nawrot and Jagoda Wójtowicz
Lights by Hao Bai
Set by Julia Torres
​
Made possible with support from the Adam Mickiewicz Institute (IAM)
Warsaw, Poland
Pragmatists, Or Use Me
experiments with VR / Noise / Witkacy / Cabaret
by Zbigniew Bzymek and Andrew Maillet​
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DAS Stage, Teatr Powszechny, Warszawa
January 18-23, 2019
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with
Marta Nawrot
Jagoda Wójtowicz
Andrzej Szeremeta
Monika Brodka
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VR by Marta Nawrot and Jagoda Wójtowicz
Costumes by Marcin Kosakowski
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By portraying the mute character Mammalia as a piece of technology on which Plasfodor’s visions are project-ed, we hope to reckon with the contemporary artist’s frustrated relationship with technology and how artists can use machines to “harmlessly” rehearse abusive behaviors that have been regarded as catalyzing and even necessary to the creative act. We want to question this kind of "creating."
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Examining Witkiewicz’s themes of openness [channeling] and it’s connection to vulnerability and how the propensity to work with others [grandiose personalities] can result in erasure from history [The Mummy]. The final form will be a viral, ready-made performance that can be played by 2-8 performers that will be a self-contained, pre-packaged work that can be licensed and rehearsed and performed by anyone.
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trailer videos:
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more photographs: https://dreamadoptionsociety.com/pragmatists
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"There are two ways out: either be the thing that flows, or be the screen upon which the flowing creates a fleeting image. Which is more essential?"
Stanis Å‚aw Ignacy Witkiewicz, Pragmatists
other AR/VR collaborations
THE ARTISTS IS [ALL BUT] PRESENT
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Zbigniew Bzymek plays Leron Miszek, an avatar of the poet Miron Białoszewski, in an interactive AR performance developed by Krzysztof Garbaczewski with Jim Fletcher. Shot through Microsoft Hololens by the VR artist Marta Nawrot. With live music by Andrew Maillet. Dream Adoption Society and NOWY TEATR collaborated on a VR/AR residency at The Performing Garage in August 2018.
COURAGEOUS HEART
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The first ever VR piece by Dream Adoption Society is a piece about KoÅ›ciuszko in a limbo world. The piece was scripted by Zbigniew Bzymek, and takes place in a world in which the eponymous Dream Adoption Society is a dystopian corporation. Directed by Krzystof Garbaczewski and featuring narration by Jim Fletcher. VR by Marta Navrot and Jagoda Wójtowicz.