Polaris

Christine McManigal
Nov 5 · 2 min read

On Sep. 13, 2019, three performance artists gathered outside of the Bellevue Art Museum to perform Polaris, a multimedia work led by University of Washington DXARTS Ph.D. student, Chanee Choi. According to Choi, Polaris explores the signals within ourselves that connect all of us through immersive light and interactive video installations.

The performance was led by Choi, and was accompanied by Karina Wolfe and Joey Largent. Polaris combines the physical movements of the Japanese dance known as Butoh with interactive gloves that provide aural outputs from the performers hand coordinates.

Chanee Choi in her performance of Polaris, writing Korean calligraphy.
Katrina Wolfe and Joey Largent
From left to right, Wolfe, Largent, and Choi combining their hand movements to create sound with interactive gloves.
Choi grasping her hat to create aural outputs with her interactive gloves.
Butoh follows the themes of distress, grotesque imagery, and hyper-controlled movements. Wolfe is captured mid-bellow as she follows this structure.
A long exposure of Wolfe, Largent, and Choi as their hyper-controlled movements are lowered to the ground.
A long exposure of Largent performing Polaris.
Largent and Choi captured in the interactive lights of Polaris.

Written by

Christine McManigal is a multimedia journalist currently based in Seattle. Her bylines include KNKX Public Radio, The Seattle Globalist, and The Daily.

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