The collaborative multimedia performance, Blood Meal, illustrates the lifecycle of an organism by bringing the grotesqueries of organic development into focus. As a cluster of organisms slowly coagulate into an amorphous whole, the projection and audio swell to reveal a life form within the light of the circular projection. A series of articulate and pointed movements conjure a recognizable creature, emerging from the fabric womb. Punctuated by percussive events of trauma and growth, the performance escalates into a crescendo of vitality. The apex of the life form is short-lived, with its primary function complete. The creature fades into the seasonal tide without fanfare. A brief period of mourning holds space for the loss that occurred. The performance concludes on a breath, an omen for future cycles. The body consumes itself to multiply, achieving immortality paradoxically within its demise.

Created and Performed by Katina Bitsicas and Rachel Strickland

Performance

Installation

Blood Meal, 2021, Multimedia Performance (projection mapped video, audio, and performance art), 4:04