The project "Vertigo" was conceptualized with the aim of comprehending the intrinsic state of human beings, namely "anxiety," within an existential framework. Its overarching objective was to reassess the ontological yearning for falling that arises from such anxiety, thereby offering solace to individuals grappling with existential despair.
"Vertigo" represents an endeavor to explore the manner in which individuals, thrust into the world and confronted with existence, should confront the pervasive feelings of "anxiety" elucidated in Sartre's seminal work, "Being and Nothingness," as well as the ontological context expounded in Heidegger's magnum opus, "Being and Time." Concurrently, it strives to accentuate these themes through the adaptation of a specific segment from Milan Kundera's novel, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," by means of two distinct artistic outputs: a video-based installation and a film.
This artistic endeavor places significant emotional emphasis on the dream sequences involving the main character, Tereza, in Milan Kundera's literary masterpiece, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," thereby bringing to the forefront the existential "anxiety" that permeates the narrative. The presentation unfolds through the projection of two distinct videos, strategically displayed on both the walls and ceilings. The initial video projected on the wall serves to evoke introspection and prompts existential inquiries regarding its own existence. It portrays Tereza, who try to preserve his own existence amidst the looming threat of its erosion. The character of Tereza becomes consumed by anxiety as he confronts the potential loss of the very foundations of his being. Once the video projected on the wall concludes, attention shifts to the ceiling, where a subsequent video begins its projection. To observe the image displayed on the ceiling, the audience gazes into a mirror positioned beneath their feet. In this configuration, Tereza, who finds solace and stability within an environment that emphasizes physical group identity, is revealed through the Tableau vivant technique. The act of viewing the video through the mirror induces a sense of vertigo within the audience, simultaneously serving as a poignant reminder that "vertigo" represents a profound yearning for an ontological falling into the state of "being-in-itself."
