En- Grave-INK | Butoh performance in Venice by Vicky Filippa | Serena Poletti’s “IN\OUT” exhibition

Описание: En-Grave-INK
A Butoh dance Performance by Vicky Filippa and music by Alexandros Mitros, presented at the opening event of Serena Poletti’s “IN\OUT” exhibition at the historic engraving studio: Studio“INCHIOSTRO6300 in Venice. n
Filmography and edit: Michela Ceccherini

This performance was a poetic dialogue between body, ink, and space—melding Butoh's deep exploration of life and death with Serena’s abstract calligraphic art. Inspired by Serena’s works—ink on paper influenced by Japanese calligraphy, enriched with the texture of tsarlatana fabric used to clean ink—

“En-Grave-INK” reimagines the process of engraving both literally and metaphorically. As I danced inside the engraving studio, I became a living part of her artwork, enveloped in the textures and colors of her pieces: black, white, and beige. My costume, constructed from taffeta, grosgrain, leather, tulle, and rope, reflected the paper quality of her creations and echoed the historic essence of old Venice. But this performance was not confined to the studio’s walls. Just as Serena’s exhibition explored the theme of “In\Out”, I carried my dance outside, flowing from the intimate space of the studio to the streets, canals, and bridges that define Venice. In doing so, I transformed from a figure of death to one of rebirth. "En" stood for "in or inside", "Grave" for death, and "Ink" for the lifeblood that escapes onto the canvas of existence, creating life like the ink on the empty, clean paper.
My journey was one of profound metamorphosis, beginning as an aged woman or witch, and as I danced, I gave birth to my baby self, reborn into fresh life.

The music, composed by “Aleksandros Mitros”, was a vital element of the performance, creating an immersive soundscape that captured the essence of my journey. Aleksandros composed the music while in Athens, drawing inspiration from photographs, videos, and descriptions I shared from Venice. His pieces, including “Vicky’s Room,” with its delicate sounds of paper and fabric, “Venice Canals,” inspired by the flowing waterways, “Basilica Frari,” a dark and spiritual piece reflecting the grandeur of the iconic church, and “A Moment of Happiness,” which symbolized the joyful transition to new life, enveloped my performance with sonic emotion.