Sardam presenting Katia Sophia Ditzler: Visitation

I. Denial: 0'04"

II. Anger: 2'03"

III. Bargaining: 4'03"

IV. Depression: 6'01"

V. Acceptance: 8'00"

Visitation (I-V) is a performative poetry film cycle consisting of 5 parts, corresponding to the stages of grief after the Kübler-Ross model.

Each part is designed in a certain color:

I. Denial is red,

II. Anger is yellow,

III. Bargaining is green,

IV. Depression is blue,

V. Acceptance is violet.

This corresponds to the four (and an additional one) elements in Western culture as well as the five elements known in Chinese culture.

The basis of the films is the number 5 and its iterations.

Numerical mystical elements and compositional principles are woven in.

Each sound collage consists of 5 different sounds, which are arranged in space.

The poems are in English, the "anti-capitalist intermezzi" in Russian.

The latter are written in the style of an antiquated Russian language course, but the content is absurd and evocative of Soviet political slogans.

Emptiness is being played with, as well as irritation. There is no certainty:

The illusion of immersion is constantly being broken. The hemispheres move towards and away from each other, the universe of "Visitation" gets more and more confusing.

There are many hidden meanings, either in sequences of numbers, or based on the choice of secondary videos that serve as disturbing elements at first glance, but add narrative layers.

The first performance, Denial, in red, corresponds to the element fire. It takes place in a garden, a telescope is balanced on a trampoline, invisible stars are viewed. The associated secondary videos are e.g. of a bonfire and an Ukrainian currency exchange.

The second performance, Anger, in yellow, corresponds to the (western) element air, or wood according to Chinese element theory.

It takes place in the Melbourne Anarchist Club, a ball of wool is taken, measured and cut off. This should remind both of the red thread of the Greek legendary character Ariadne, as well as the norns, who decide a human being’s life span: the first by spinning a thread, the second by measuring it, the third by cutting it off. The associated videos are e.g. wooden structures and Javanese Wayang Kult puppets.

The third performance, Bargaining, in green, corresponds to the element earth. It takes place on a windy beach on the Pacific Ocean shore next to a ferry. Toilet paper is being wrapped around the performer’s body. The associated videos are, for example, plants.

The fourth performance, Depression, in blue, corresponds to the element of water. It takes place in a closed alley, flyers are torn, the performer takes money out of her bra and tosses it on the ground. The associated videos are e.g. of the Euro monument of the Frankfurt banking district, the sea, lights, and in-flight information.

The fifth performance, Acceptance, in violet, corresponds to the (western) element spirit, or metal according to the Chinese element theory.

It takes place on the steep bank of the Yarra River, wrinkles are painted on the face. The associated videos are, for example, flowers, padlocks, and Australian Reality TV scenes.

There are also running gags: In addition to the anti-capitalist interludes, a person with a fur hat appears who does gymnastics exercises. A figure that symbolizes death always tries to harm herself, but fails each time.

Voice artists:

Intermezzi: Dunia Dunaev

I.: Josh Mitchell

II.: Dmitri Cherkasski

III.: Jude Keane

IV.: Zane Simmill

V.: Simon Berman