Maria Escarabajal

It is always interesting to see the eclectic mix of work that comes together at Beautiful Interiors and Maria Escarabajal is our first featured artist from this venue. She is also our first video artist and this is her first time in the Trail.

1. Please tell us about the work you will be showing in the 2009 E17 Art Trail?
The work I will show for the E17 Art Trail, titled Go to your Special Place consists of 3 screen dance projects that will be installed at Penny Fielding Beautiful Interiors. The 3 works are completely independent from each other although an aesthetic connection can be found. The 3 video installations are:

In your mind’s eye: A four screen dance installation with cushions to sit comfortably on the floor to view the piece. The piece is based on a hypnosis journey to understand irreversibility. The duration is 15 minutes and it will be looped.
Luminous Shadows: This is an exploration of light in the performing body and its video abstraction. This piece was used as part of the scenography for an orchestral piece of the same name by Holly Harding and it is being adapted for the Art Trail.
The Breathing Project: Based on Juan Munoz painting where a naked body is illuminated by a frontal light, this project researches choreographic devices using natural breathing, creating a hypnotic atmosphere of breathing bodies. The piece is being adapted for Penny Fielding’s shop.

2. Could you have done this work anywhere, or is it specific to E17?
The installation nature of the work demands it be adapted for every place it is shown.

3. Have you participated in the E17 Art Trail before?
I have not participated before in the E17 Art Trail.

4. How does your work this year relate to your previous artistic practice?
This work belongs to my dance screen study, developing a sense to frame the dance where there is no dance and where there is a liminality between dance and movement, video art and documentary.

5. What challenges (if any) do you face in realising this work?
The challenge is to transmit the idea that dance is not only stage and spectacle and that choreography can be found anywhere, such as in the act of breathing.

6. Who is this work for?

This work is for an open audience willing to examine and question new practices and creative processes familiar to screen dance and video art projects.

7. As well as being an artist what else do you do?
Besides creating my artistic work, I am a dance teacher and I also work in Public Relations for the Academia Nacional del Tango (UK), which is currently organising the 5th London International Tango Festival that will take place 13th, 14th and 15th November.

8. What is your favourite place in E17
My favourite place in Walthamstow is Istanbul restaurant. I love Turkish food and adore Turkish baklava.