Joan Jonas
Waltz

2003
Video, colour, sound
6:24 min
Contemporary Art Collection

The striking aspect of the video “Waltz” is that most of the characters wear masks. These masks are a recurring motif originating in Japanese Nō theatre. Waltz is an explicit homage to 18th century French open-air theatre, which was instrumentalized as a medium of enlightenment. The theatre of that period, and especially in the revolutionary years 1789/90, succeeded in conveying vital knowledge to a wide mass of people across almost all social classes. However, the mirror and a confrontation with nature - in this case wind and water - are also important elements of the video work. Through a depiction of different times of day and environments, and with the help of the mirror or reflections on the water, the reflection of light, shadow, sun and moonlight is depicted in a particular way.