3D VIDEO PRODUCTION, INSTALLATION, EXHIBITION

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Directed by Matthu Placek
Produced by Matthew Shattuck

130919 • A Portrait of Marina Abramović is artist Matthu Placek’s debut work in his 3D video portrait series. The moving portraits extend Placek's ongoing pursuit to immortalize his subjects' past, present, and future in a single composition. Shot in one take and without dialogue, these short films offer rare, uninterrupted moments with artists as they interact with surroundings meaningful to each of them. 3D cinematography enhances the intimacy of the vignettes, further collapsing the space between the viewer and the subjects' essential natures. At the core of Placek's artistic practice is a considered admiration for his sitters.

In a culture where attention spans are short and the cell phone portrait is pervasive, Placek cultivates a moment with the sitter that lasts longer than a glance. 3D cinematography offers a means to further break down barriers between camera, viewer, and subject. The painstaking preparation and detail the process requires is felt in the intimacy of the final composition. In the absence of cuts, these one-take films encourage uninterrupted concentration from both viewer and subject, opening up the possibility for a deeper connection.

In 130919 • A Portrait of Marina Abramović, Placek forges an honest depiction of the artist’s creative and emotional energy. For this piece and throughout the series, Placek's close personal relationship with his subjects and their work inform the authenticity of the moving portraits. Placek sets Abramović in the center of an expansive, crumbling room that will become the Marina Abramović Institute, a space serving as the performance artist's legacy. Both are exposed, strong, and marked with history. As the camera pans out, figure and environment fuse, invoking the arc of the artist's life, her transitional state, and the promise of renewal.

Placek commissioned an original score based upon an ancient Greek song, translated and recorded by Serbian singer Svetlana Spajic and arranged by music producer Thomas Bartlett that recalls the cycle of birth, maturity, decay, and rebirth.

The world premiere took place during Miami Basel 2013 at The National Young Arts Foundation as a site-specific installation in their "Jewel Box", a space experiencing its own rebirth.

This work was made possible by the generous support of The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, The National Young Arts Foundation, The Knight Foundation and Executive Producers VISIONAIRE Film.