Equal / Opposite
2006, digital video

Equal / Opposite explores our reactions to emotional stimuli by focusing on the aftershock of intimate physical actions. A series of slapstick events is performed by the artists on one another, examining the lasting impact of these very immediate events—a kind word, a cutting remark.

Two people always appear side by side in split screen but never seem to be on the “same page.” These two people are subjected over and over again to a series of interactions with an off screen person, presumed to be each’s opposite. Through this formal visual arrangement, coupled with the intimate nature of the events, a relationship is inferred although what that relationship is remains undefined. Are they lovers, siblings, or simply a universal “everyman” and “everywoman”?

Each action is shown in real time with the reaction of the individual slowed down, allowing maximum focus on the moments just after. Much of what we see is mechanical, such as flinching or turning the head. Yet, at this slowed down speed, a wide range of emotions also registers on the faces of the individuals in each scene. These emotional responses are heightened by the dissonant ordering of the video and the cross registering of expressions on both faces, when at times, synchronistic events occur. When projected, the video can loop, creating a chain of events that has no sequence or narrative. Allowing it to be more clearly read as a metaphor for the turmoil of intimate relationships, and for the lasting impact our actions have on one another.

To see samples of this project, you can email me at travis@hanmerproject.com