Anti-Gone by Theo Triantafyllidis at Human Resources
Anti-Gone
Theo Triantafyllidis
Human Resources LA
May 11-12, 2019
Human Resources presents Theo Triantafyllidis’ debut feature-length performance, Anti-Gone, a sprawling experiment in 3D world-building, real-time simulation, interactivity and theatricality. Adapted from the eponymous graphic novel by Connor Willumsen, Triantafyllidis takes the idiosyncratic narrative and visual style of Anti-Gone as a platform to explore the possibilities and limitations of theatrical performance. As Triantafyllidis re-creates the world of Willumsen’s Anti-Gone as a series of 3D scenes, performers Matthew Doyle, Lindsey Normington and Zana Gankhyug embark on improvisational excursions in this mediated world. The performers explore dramatic tropes from absurdist theater to psychological realism and somatic awareness, while the game engine performs alongside them. The actors presence is augmented and complicated by virtual reality headsets, motion capture suits and audio DSP. Using these tools, Triantafyllidis directs and shapes the world that is being presented to both the performers and the audience in real time. Anti-Gone asserts theatricality as a new way of thinking fictionally, as real space is re-incorporated into a subjective game logic. This is a theater re-invigorated with new techniques for pleasure and play as the world outside simulates its own destruction…
In a post-climate change world, environmental catastrophe has become normalized. Cities are sunken, yet the vestiges of late-capitalist culture – consumerism, inequality, social unrest – live on, clinging like barnacles to the ruins of civilization. Spyda and Lynxa are a couple navigating this world frictionlessly. On their sailboat, they glide from shopping to movies to psychedelic drugs. In a damaged world where you can have anything you want, what’s the cost?
Duration: 3 acts, 60mins, no intermission
Human Resources LA
410 Cottage Home St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Based on the original comic book by Connor Willumsen
Produced by Matthew Doyle
Starring Lindsey Normington, Zana Gankhuyag, Matthew Doyle
Lighting Design by Connor Childs
Sound by Jeffrey Alan Scudder
Production Assistant Polina Miliou
Special Thanks to Mari Spirito, Celia Hollander, Luke Fischbeck, Miller Klitsner
With the support of
Human Resources LA
UCLA, Design Media Arts
bitforms gallery
Tech Sponsors
Barco Projectors
Noitom MoCap
Theo Triantafyllidis is represented by The Breeder, Athens and Meredith Rosen, New York.
Theo Triantafyllidis is an artist who builds virtual spaces and the interfaces for the human body to inhabit them. He creates complex worlds and systems where the virtual and the physical merge in uncanny, absurd and poetic ways. These are manifested as performances, mixed reality experiences, games and interactive installations. He holds an MFA from UCLA, Design Media Arts and a Diploma of Architecture from NTUA. He has shown work in museums, including the Hammer Museum in LA and NRW Forum in Dusseldorf, DE. He was part of Hyper Pavilion in the 2017 Venice Biennale and the 2018 Athens Biennale: ANTI-. He is based in LA.
Matthew Doyle is an artist and filmmaker living in Los Angeles. Working in multiple mediums, Doyle is concerned with the contextual process of meaning-making, and blurring the boundary between fiction and non-fiction. His work has been presented at Swiss Insitute (NYC), RECESS (PDX), MassArt (BOS), Hammer Museum, FARAGO, Human Resources (LA), and Beton7 (Athens, GR). He holds an M.F.A. from UCLA’s Design | Media Arts program with a certificate in Experimental Critical Theory, and currently teaches multimedia art at Loyola Marymount University.
Connor Willumsen is a Montréal-based cartoonist and multi disciplinary visual artist. He has designed covers for the Criterion Collection and illustrated for Marvel Comics, while his main body of work, self-authored print comics, has received various awards, honors, and scholarships, including a fellowship at The Center for Cartoon Studies. His work is featured in the Kramer’s Ergot anthology, Sharjah Biennial 14 and published by Breakdown Press. His first major book, “Anti-Gone”, published by Koyama Press, was a finalist for an LA Times Book Prize, Doug Wright Award, Pingprizen Award, and Ignatz Award.
Lindsey Normington is a writer, actress and dancer living in Los Angeles. She holds a B.A. in Theater and Communication Studies from Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Her one person show FIGUREHEAD, which she wrote, directed and starred in, debuted last year and will be performed this fall as part of the United Solo Theater festival in New York City. She is currently working on developing her first screenplay Whale Watching into a feature length film. You can follow her on Instagram at @lindsey.bug
Zana Gankhuyag is an actor and dancer living in Los Angeles. He holds a B.A. in theater from George Mason University. As a dancer in the Khan Bogd dance ensemble, he toured the world performing Traditional Mongolian Folk music and band. Worked at the premiere physical theater Synetic Theater Company. He teaches children to dance at HUNNU Nomadic Arts Gallery. You can follow him on Instagram at @zana9ankhuyag
