J&K / Janne Schäfer and Kristine Agergaard
Mammal Matrix (MaMa)
High format HD video (sequence of still photography and spoken text), 12:28
2017

J&K, Mammal Matrix (MaMa), HD video (stills sequence), 2017, photo: Stolberg

Mammal Matrix (MaMa) consists of a looped animation of still photography images showing a colourful and vividly textured composition of bedding materials, fabrics and objects in constant transformation seen from bird-eyes perspective. The painterly scenarios reference death and birth beds, and bear witness to possible rituals and stages of passage that are lived and performed in them.

The image sequence is accompanied by a mesmerising spoken text taking the audience on a cosmic journey through multiple states of births and deaths, from the edge of the universe into a womb on planet earth. The protagonists of this journey are a basilosaurus, a chicken, a sesame seed and a meteorite; phenomena that are all loosely referencing ancient cultural and geological history of the region that makes up today’s Pakistan.

The work was especially created for the 1rst Karachi Biennale and shown as a projection together with a full-floor installation referencing the aesthetics of the video and blending it with local materials to create a soft patchwork for contemplation.

Text written by Jonathan Bonnici in collaboration with J&K, photography and edit by Fritz Stolberg. Thanks to Linards Kulless.

Video on vimeo (password on request)

Mammal Matrix (MaMa), video and installation, Karachi Biennial, 2017, photo: Karachi Biennial

J&K, Mammal Matrix (MaMa), HD video (stills), 2017, photos: Stolberg