Excavātion
Is an ongoing work first developed in June 2018 at Denniston Hill and performed during their Open House. This work explores Pelenakeke’s medical archive and the excavātion process. Through this investigation Pelenakeke has unearthed unknown family histories, especially in regards to her mother and her mother’s experience navigating the medical industry. Most recently Pelenakeke has been investigating this history though her body during her Dance/NYC Disability Dance Artistry Residency at Spaceworks and Gibney. While in the studio she has developed different techniques to enter the material, play with it and reimagine it. She will continue to research and develop this work during the summer as The Laundromat Project and Denniston Hill’s Artist in Residence.
Using the archive of the medical file to create a performance work, Pelenakeke used somatic techniques to create movement.
A scanned image of Pelenakeke’s medical record. With left page showing an example of a black out poem.
Image from July 2018, Denniston Hill. Pelenakeke is lying on the floor, on her side, arm outstretched above her, dancing in front of an installation of her medical record. Photo credit: Vladimir Radojicic
Pelenakeke stands in front of her tatau projections, arms outstretched, she looks to her left hand. Photo credit: Arielle Knight
A composite image of 6 image stills of Pelenakeke’s arms in the air, dancing. Photo credit: Vladimir Radojicic. Image from July 2018, Denniston Hill, performance.