Concept: Anatoliy Kharkhurin
Poetry: Tovy Harhur
Video: Zlatan Filipović
Act: Rik Aby
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This video poem is based on an video installation presented at the solo exhibition poARTree at G.A.D. Gallery (Berlin, Germany).

It continues my experimental work combining visual and verbal elements in a coherent whole aiming to elicit an aesthetical reaction in a beholder. The poem develops the theme from Greek mythology about Orpheus, a legendary musician, poet, and prophet.

Orpheus descends into the underworld of Hades to rescue his deceased wife Eurydice. His singing enchants Hades’s wife Persephone who convinces her husband to grant Orpheus permission to return Eurydice to the realm of the living. There is only one condition: During his journey from the underworld, Orpheus should not look back at Eurydice. Orpheus looks back...

Orpheus is an archetype of a poet. Eurydice in the realm of the dead is only a shadow. She exists only in his imagination. Dialogue between Orpheus and Eurydice is a dialogue between the poet and his muse, a dialogue with himself.

Hence, Orpheus&Orpheus depicts two figures of the same male figure reciting both male and female parts. The dialog takes place in Orpheus’s mind for there is no other person in the scene (Eurydice is in his imagination). This notion is presented by lips moving out of sync with audio track. The incongruence between the visual and auditory planes is meant to elicit per Vygotsky aesthetical reaction to this work.

text

– what a burden these sharp stones
– stones like stones
stones like souls
like stiffen fates
of dead people
– motionless
as could be motionless
eternity
reached its apogee
– pelageya?
– persephone
was her name –
she looked as if king hades
was not there
– i was
enchanted too
a wife and a partner
of yours
forever
– forever?
the lights of the underground lakes remain
forever
stones and moans of lost wind
will remain forever
the echo of our steps…
– i'm following you
as your echo
– in this realm of shadows
“forever” transmutes
into stone
– stone lies on the path
– stones are everywhere
behind
– ah, don't look!
– i don't
stone's in the corner
on the edge
in the head
– stones are everywhere
i do love
– me or my songs?
– you
– but i?
i came to conquer
i've conquered
but i don't know whom
– me
you've loved
you came loving
and now i'm following you
– wait!
Eurydice am i – i came for you
the one
i couldn't sleep nights without
i called out
i urged
my songs are filled up with you
my i – is you
to that one
i came down the narrow path
– did you invent me?
– you're inside of me
– my voice is ardent breath of yours
my movements are echo of sand
sliding down your sandals
i'm your shadow
obedient and faithful
wife
– what are you in the sun light?
– i don't know
i'm by myself
– yourself?
you're not me?
– i'm not
you'll give me flowers
and we'll stroll until morn
you and me
you and me
then we'll marry
we'll have children
a family
you and me
you and me
and them
the family
you'll get used to me
no worries
and you'll start recognizing me
later
we'll hang your lyre in the frame
it'll adorn our living room
so it will be
Orpheus listen
you've done a great job
be yourself
listen
look back
you'll see a muse
i'll remain inside of you
forever
i'm your breath
not your wife
– i know you!