“Room” (Սենյակ) (00:15:00) by Anna Grigorian, Armenia, Canada, 2021
“Room” (Սենյակ [sɛnˈjɑk] ) reflects on the issues of violence and murder cases of women through the dry text of judicial acts and series of choreographed actions. While the factual data used in the video is directly taken from the realities of Armenia, gender-based oppression and violence reaching physical retaliation and murder are ongoing and widespread, making the work relevant across countries.
Despite the violent topic, the work avoids direct violent imagery. The monotonous, calm recital of the murder cases is accompanied by a series of choreographed performative actions staged by the artist, creating an allegorical space where the discourses on gender, boundaries of the body, and patriarchal order are deliberated upon through artistic expression. The texts are excerpts from judicial acts, discovered through “Silenced Voices: Femicide in Armenia 2016-2017” report, prepared by Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women, and verified through DataLex Judiciary Portal.
Support acknowledgment: Arts and Cultural Studies Laboratory Artist in Residence program (Armenia), and the Canada Council for the Arts (Canada).
Director Bio
Anna Grigorian is an experimental artist from Armenia, whose art practice is currently based between Canada and Armenia. With a background in sculpture, literature, and photography, her current chosen medium is moving image. Her video work revolves around socio political and economic problems, and examination of power relations, through mixing elements of theater, early cinema, and constructed surreal studio environments.
Director, Writer, Producer, Concept: Anna Grigorian
Sound design and video editing: Anna Grigorian
Cast:
Julia Thomas
Vronsky Belizaire
Amber Jackson
Anna Grigorian
Music:
“Hamayak jan” Armenian folk song, extracts from performance by Lusik Qoshyan; electronically generated Armenian Dhol loops
Pebbles Underground is focused on showcasing and promoting experimental, avant-garde, underground, and no-to-low budget projects by artist-humans from all over the world. Absurd, uncanny, witty, humorous, slow-video – all are welcomed, and loved.
Pebbles Underground is an independent project not funded by any government or corporation, and we intend to keep it that way. Main source of funding is personal donations from humans organizing the project, who are artists themselves, and the main drive of the project is formed by the energy and involvement of the organizers, and the public.
