Intimate Investigations

Description:

In Intimate Investigations, Lezli Rubin-Kunda spent four days in outdoor locations around Vancouver completing performance-based actions and research. In the rainy fall weather, she communed with nature and the elements. She wrestled with vines, tore strips of bark from fallen trees with her teeth, and gathered and layed in piles of leaves. She collected plant material, debris, and found objects and created ephemeral performances, spontaneous installations, and semi-private rituals.

These activities were captured with a VHS camera, Polaroid snapshots, drawings, and notes. The resulting documentation was edited and compiled as a video backdrop for a multimedia presentation that took place on Nov 20, 2003.

The Western Front guest room became an intimate installation where nature intersected the built environment. Seaweed hung next to bark coils suspended on coat hangers in the closet space, flower petals floated in the hand basin, and a pile of bark lay open like a large book on the desk. The walls were plastered with her work-drawings, diary entries, Polaroids, and natural ephemera.

In the Grand Luxe Hall, Rubin-Kunda performed live, sorting and manipulating her collection of natural materials and interacting with the audience while the video of her activities over the four days was projected.  

Presented as part of the LIVE Biennale, and as part of the Contemporary Ritual Series curated by Victoria Singh. 

Video documentation available upon request.