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The playful, absurdist worlds of Shreya de Souza (1995) invite spectators to immerse themselves in the artist’s fantasy. De Souza combines self-developed CGI-animated characters with real-life actors and papier-mâché objects to create supernatural video collages. While trained as a photographer, they later realized that video art offered a more dynamic range of possibilities for storytelling. Furthermore, films are often realized in co-creation, something the artist fully embraces. Collaborating with choreographers and amateur actors is at the core of each of their projects, and during the creative process, community building is just as important as the end result.
De Souza draws inspiration from inclusive lifestyles that originated in the queer community. In 2020, during lockdown, for instance, they co-founded the Queer Choir Amsterdam.
The new work Swamp Play (2024) consists of a short film that is embedded in a colourful installation featuring a papier-mâché sculpture and toys. These objects also appear in the film, thus creating a bridge between our reality and the on-screen world. The narrative follows a group of people who were left behind in a swamp by CGI-animated lizards. The swamp symbolizes transformation, an alternative space where the characters can discover new sides to themselves and where their collective bond is able to thrive. By alternating these scenes with images of the rehearsals, the spectator is also involved in the production process. In an imaginative and humorous way, infused with a touch of kitsch, Swamp Play shows how transformation and community building are possible in unexpected places.
Text: Esmee Postma
Translated from Dutch by Marie Louise Schoondergang (The Art of Translation)