Aesthetics for Birds

Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art for Everyone

A still from the embedded video. Three performers are onstage. They are dressed in black and are against a black background, giving the image an appearance of darkness. A male performer carries a female performer in his arms. She lies horizontally, facing downwards. Her legs and arms are almost straight, as if she were a rigid rectangular object. To their left (the viewer's right), there is another female performer. She lies on her side on the floor, eyes closed but facing the audience, her hands raised slightly above her body.

Karen Gover on Aperture’s Choreography

April 9, 2015 by Aesthetics for Birds | 0 comments

Creators discuss the creation of Aperture*

This is entry #28 in our 100 Philosophers, 100 Artworks, 100 Words Series.

Philosopher: Karen Gover (Bennington)

Artwork: Doug Varone, Aperture (1993). Dance (music: Schubert’s Moments Musicaux No. 2)

Words: This little gem by one of my favorite choreographers shows how great artists can make a lot from seemingly little: constructed from simple gestures and quotidian movements, Aperture does not look like a dance in the conventional sense, and yet it conveys a whole world of mood and meaning. It made me see everyday life as rich material for a dance, and it made me see beauty in the unthinking motions of everyday life.

*The original video provided by the author was no longer available. Instead, we are including a performance (and discussion) of the same piece.

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