Dafna Maimon’s humorous and often absurd work taps deep into the human narrative. Maimon’s work in Helsinki Biennial reflects on the lost condition of modern humanity.
Dafna Maimon (b.1982) is an artist based in Berlin, Germany. Her practice encompasses performance, participatory situations, video, and installation. Her work surveys the ways in which we handle recollections, stereotypes, and traumatic experiences into narrative settings, while sketching out strategies of subversion and self-empowerment. In particular, her work deconstructs patriarchal structures and plays with them through exaggeration and re-contextualization. Other characteristics of her practice are the study of diverse forms of community and belongingness. Her humorous and often absurd work taps deep into the human narrative, while looking for new perspectives and tools that allow for self-reflection, stillness and catharsis.
Dafna Maimon: Indigestibles, 2021 ©Maija Toivanen/HAM/Helsinki Biennial 2021
Indigestibles, 2021
Comprising video, installation, sound and performance, Maimon’s work in Helsinki Biennial reflects on the lost condition of modern humanity. Laced with warm humour, the work sheds light on the complicated relationship between people and their bodies.
Indigestibles is a portrait of Shelly, a stressed-out middle-aged woman whose life lacks meaning and content.
Maimon deconstructs Shelly and scrutinizes the imbalance that exists between her consciousness and her uncooperative digestive system. This mind-body conflict opens up Shelly’s inner world. The flourishing network of bacteria, intestines, internal organs and undigested food form a landscape where Shelly is lost and unable to navigate.
The work has been produced in cooperation with the Pro Artibus Foundation.
The work is supported by the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland.
Photo 1: Anton Stüber
Dafna Maimon
Indigestibles
2021
Installation, Video Loop, Performance
Indigestibles: There’s Today
2021
4K video, loop
Shelly: Jessica Gadani
Shelly’s Mother: Rose Sanyang-Hill
Shelly’s Friends: Sky Deep, Susie Meyer, Micaela da Silva, Özlem Ögütcü
Director of Photography and Light: Imogen Heath and Nadja Krüger
Set Design, 2D Graphics Design & Video Effects: Ethan Hayes-Chute
Sound Recording: Hannes Marget and Tobias Müller
Assistant Editor & Color Correction: Ginés Olivares
Sound Design: Ville Haimala & Tim Roth
Costumes: Angelika Götz
Indigestibles: Last Resort
2021
textiles, wood, various materials, sound, light
Intestine Fabricator: Tea Palmelund, Anna Budniewski & Evgenia Chetvertkova
Intestine Sound Design: Ville Haimala & Tim Roth
Intestine Consultant: Ethan Hayes-Chute
Gut Voice: Jessica Gadani, Lulu Obermayer, Dafna Maimon
Indigestibles: Heartburn (an instructional do it at home video)
2021
Script: Dafna Maimon & Andrew Kerton
Performer: Anne Pajunen
Voice Over: Andrew Kerton
Video Edit: Dafna Maimon
Video & Sound Production: Flik Helsinki
Indigestibles: Heartburn
2021
Performance
Performers: Andrew Kerton, Dafna Maimon
Costumes: Tea Palmelund & Anna Budniewski
Overall Project Manager / Producer: Franziska Zahl
Project Intern: Vera Xia, Maddy Kennard
The work has been produced in cooperation with the Pro Artibus Foundation. The work is supported by the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland.
Commissioned by HAM/Helsinki Biennial 2021