Francis St-Germain, Valaquia Studio - Hingeliblikas (Short Film)

Описание: Hingeliblikas (from Estonian: a soul in the shape of a butterfly) is an audiovisual work focused on Estonian mythology, transhumanism, and dystopian societies. The piece was electronically created and features an instrumental quartet consisting of flute, clarinet, pianos and cello. The listener traverses three locations, following the journey of a recently deceased entity whose soul, in the shape of a butterfly, is musically represented by the clarinet and visually by the character on screen. The work is composed of five parts:

1. Prologue
2. Chapter I: Hiis – Sacred Place
3. Chapter II: Toonela – Land of the Dead
4. Chapter III: Non-lieu
5. Epilogue

Hingeliblikas is a case study on the possible roots of the malaise associated with contemporary liminality. A malaise is defined as a feeling of unease with no clear identifiable cause. While typically experienced on a personal level, this feeling seems to have become widespread. The growth of cyberspace in recent years has created a tension between the analog and digital worlds; contemporary society finds itself at an uncomfortable space of in-between—a liminal space—on every level.

Through the piece, two primary coping mechanisms that serve as tools to escape reality are explored: melancholy and nostalgia, alongside futuristic political ideologies. Melancholy and nostalgia are rooted in Estonian pagan traditions, evoking a sense of connection to ancestral rites and sacred natural landscapes. In contrast, the exploration of futuristic political ideas delves into the transformative potential of cyberfeminism, xenofeminism, and accelerationism, drawing inspiration from the works of philosophers and theorists such as Mark Fisher, Sadie Plant, Nick Land, and the collective Laboria Cuboniks. These approaches intertwine, reflecting the tension between a yearning for the past and the drive to transcend human limitations through radical technological and societal reimaginings.

Like ancestral tales, the narrative framework and context of the work are established as a critical tool towards contemporary society. The piece situates our current era as a bygone age, exploring the potential repercussions of today’s capitalist world, which exploits natural environments for the sake of infinite growth. Hingeliblikas presents a dystopian world following the extension of the present, where the acceleration of capitalism has led to the development of biotechnologies and the rise of a global totalitarian government run by corporations, ultimately resulting in the complete collapse of society and the near-total extinction of humanity. In this story, the few surviving souls after this upheaval form new societies that closely resemble those from the time of early settlement and the medieval era. These populations are small, care deeply for their immediate physical environment, and embody timeless archetypes such as the Old Wise, the Magician, and the Witch.

Credits
Concept, Artistic direction, & Music composition - Francis St-Germain
Directed by - Valaquia Studio

Physical Performance - Francis St-Germain
Flute - Hannah Wirnsperger
Clarinet - Stéphanie Lavoie
Piano & Toy piano - Carolina Santiago Martínez
Cello - Carmen Kleykens Vidal
Mixing & Mastering - Francis St-Germain

Photography direction & Video editing - Valaquia Studio
Production design - Blandine Granier & Francis St-Germain
Set design - Blandine Granier
Set design production - Valaquia Studio & Francis St-Germain
Photography - Maryse St-Germain & Valaquia Studio
Costume design - Loïs Heckendorn
Cutting, Production & Dressing - Loïs Heckendorn
Sewing pattern assistance & Consulting - Red Raven

With the support of :
Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg
Eesti Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia
Kungliga Musikhögskolan i Stockholm
Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon
Djdrusogood & Friends

www.francisstgermain.com