Without Sun

Brody Condon

• The Museum of Modern Art
• 11 W 53rd Street
• Monday, November 2 7:00pm

Condon’s “Without Sun” (2006), is an edited collection of ‘found performances’ – online videos of individuals who recorded themselves while having a psychedelic experience. The 15 minute video will be followed by a performative re-creation featuring the dancer Linda Austin and actor Russell Edge. Utilizing the original video as choreography document and script, the performers simultaneously repeat the gestures of the individuals, the actor mimicking the voices and the dancer matching the body movements. The title connects the references of memory, technology, and travel in Chris Marker’s seminal personal essay film “Sans Soleil” to the dissociation of bodily control and mental function induced by the hallucinogenic experience in the online videos.

Performed by the actor Russell Edge and dancer Linda Austin.

After the performance Condon will discuss “Without Sun” and its relationship to “Case,” his upcoming performance adaptation of William Gibson’s classic cyberpunk novel “Neuromancer” (1984), commissioned by Rhizome and Performa and held at the New Museum on November 22nd as part of Performa 09.

Brody Condon is an American artist born in Mexico in 1974. Concerned with the over-identification with fantasy in contemporary culture, his work is best known for its use of modified computer games and role-playing subcultures to create performance and video installation. Condon has attended residencies at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten and Skowhegan. Past exhibitions include 2004 Whitney Biennial, Pace Wildenstein Gallery, Mattress Factory, and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.

This program is part of Modern Mondays at MoMA, organized by Sally Berger, Assistant Curator, Department of Film. Special thanks to Lana Wilson and Performa.

Brody Condon also presents “Case” as part of Performa 09.