A time capsule of life during lockdown will weave together stories, memories, reflections and celebrations in an immersive, multimedia production at Brisbane Powerhouse from 10 – 12 September as a highlight of this year’s Brisbane Festival.
The aptly titled Snapshot is a collaboration between celebrated Brisbane-based performance collective Polytoxic, Brisbane Festival and over 100 Queensland artists who will create a digital tapestry comprising evocative songwriting, spoken word, lip-synch, stunning artworks, interpretive dance and personal interviews.
The artists’ contributions are interwoven with live performance, an epic soundscape and large-scale projections beamed across the 20 metre high façade of Brisbane Powerhouse in a series of free outdoor performances.
Polytoxic Co-Artistic Director Leah Shelton said Snapshot was created to reflect the spectrum of emotions and experiences provoked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Snapshot was made in response to all the conversations this period has prompted among us, specifically the importance and value we place on community, connection, representation and diversity,” Ms Shelton said.
Co-Artistic Director Lisa Fa’alafi said the free, all-ages production was a fitting representation of the new environment artists and audiences found themselves navigating.
“We wanted this production to feel immersive but also meaningful and reflective of this time, right now,” Ms Fa’alafi said.
“To achieve the epic scale we were after – and to bring together the elements of projection, live performance and a powerful soundtrack – we knew we had to stage it outside.”
Snapshot will project artist contributions onto the façade of Brisbane Powerhouse, transforming it into multiple worlds – from an apartment block in lockdown to a Zoom meeting screen – as live performers suspended from the Brisbane Powerhouse traverse the walls, interacting with the video art.
Brisbane Festival Artistic Director Louise Bezzina said Snapshot celebrated the diversity of Brisbane and Queensland artists.
“COVID-19 dealt a devastating blow to artists across all disciplines which makes it so vital to re-engage and reconnect with Queensland’s exceptional creative and artistic communities,” Ms Bezzina.
