KARNEJ/gestura

In this episode, we meet in Hollywood at El NIDO to speak to KARNEJ about the gestura - a series of monthly performances encompassing sound, words, objects, movement, and artificial intelligence components. The series seeks to make visible the importance of gesture in play, gestura1 is a scenario contrived by KARNEJ with the help of dancer/interpreter Stevie Kincheloe. Both will collaborate with movement-tracking body sensors, modular electronics, and A.I. text transcribers to create a spoken word piece consisting of triggered vocalized words/phrases. In a way (so to speak), "dancing the poem." Its inauguration is Thursday, February 16th, at 7 pm at El NIDO. 

 We learn how the performance comes about and what it seeks - "a stream of implied meaningfulness" not contrived, instead hopefully raw output. 

 "The gestures of both participants and the curation/editing of the vocal recordings used are the sole content of the work while the flows of context ignited after that generate its form. The result is an oracular stream of implied meaningfulness, juxtapositions of narrative with flickering, glitching vocalizations. But what's important is not the result but the possibilities catalyzed by the process as a whole— gestura2 (03/16/23) will include the participation of those attending in its process and performance, making the series an interactive collaboration by way of the machine."

We uncover KARNEJ is the origin point of a variety of media instigations. In the past, these have taken the form and appearance of visual art, poetry, and sound/music in galleries and performance spaces in the U.S. (MX Gallery, Filosofi Arts, Interstate Projects, P.S. 1 and WFMU, Montez Press Radio in N.Y.) and abroad (performances in Centro de Cultura Digital, Centro Cultural de España in Mexico City and Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona and Vigo, Spain).

 Also, KARNEJ is a dwelling. A something and somewhere resisting authorship through faith in personal and collective codes. It prioritizes communion between different modes through chance encounters where the experience of rupture can emerge. The gestura series will continue on the third Thursday of every month in EL NIDO. 

 The conversation is fascinating as we unravel the instigation of this unique performance series. I also share my views about the necessity to witness various concepts of experimentation to more profound any individual's studio practice. Further, we explore elements of non-authorship and precisely what that means to this series. And of course, I ask KARNEJ the famous last question of what would you say to your younger self or rather "words of wisdom" to other individuals. The answer is surprising, as each of my guests always has interesting autographical comments that inform human existence to all creatives, regardless of what stage.  

https://www.vcprojects.art/karnej-gestura1