SUPER VISION (2005-2006)

Conceived and created by The Builders Association & dbox.

SUPER VISION explores the changing nature of our relationship to living in a post-private society, where personal electronic information is constantly collected and distributed. The data files collected on us circulate like extra bodies, and these “data bodies” carry stains that are harder to clean than mud or sin; from birth certificates to bad credit, every moment of activity contributes to the construction of one’s own data body.

In post-9/11 daily life, we have come to accept, allow, and even encourage this new post-visual form of surveillance and its constant incursions into the realm of our “selves.” What forces encourage our permissiveness and engagement in the process of collecting this data and making it public, and what will the results of it be?

In SUPER VISION, three stories collide on the edge of the datasphere: 1. As he crosses successive borders, a solitary traveler gradually reveals all of his information, until his identity becomes transparent, with no part of his life left outside the bounds of dataveillance. 2. A young woman digitally archives her failing grandmother’s past, and 3. A father covertly exploits his young son’s data until the ploy escalates beyond the father’s control. His wife and son are left with a starkly diminished data portrait, and his escape is shadowed by the long reach of the datasphere.

SUPER VISION is a collaboration between the New York-based performance and media ensemble The Builders Association and dbox, a multidisciplinary studio whose work explores the intersection of visual arts and architecture through 3D digital media.

SUPER VISION is dedicated to the memory of friend, supporter, and board member Susan Sontag (1933-2004).

Visit superv.org

Contributing Artists

Conceived and created by The Builders Association & dbox

Directed by Marianne Weems
Conception by James Gibbs, Marianne Weems, Matthew Bannister, Charles d’Autremont, Dan Dobson

Text by Constance De Jong
Additional Text by company members
Initial Story Development by Jed Weintrob and Andrew Osborne

Performed by:
Moe Angelos
Kyle deCamp
Rizwan Mirza
David Pence
Tanya Selvaratnam
Joseph Silovsky
Harry Sinclair

On video:
Owen Philip as John Jr.

Set and Costume Design by Stewart Laing
Lighting Design by Jennifer Tipton and Allen Hahn
Virtual Design by dbox
Video Design by Peter Flaherty
Sound Design and Original Music Composition by Dan Dobson

Neal Wilkinson, Production Manager
Joseph Silovsky, Technical Director
Jamie McElhinney, Technical Manager
Jeff Morey, Video Associate
Hal Eagar, Video Associate (Courtesy of The Gertrude Stein Repertory Theatre)

Additional artists who contributed to this production include:

David Pence originated the part of John Sr.
Chris Kondek (video designer)
Jeff Webster (performer)

Moe Angelos (demographics researcher)
Kelly Cooper (research associate)
Alison Currie (production assistant)
David Gould (performer)
Francesca Harper (choreographer)
Anna Henckel-Donnersmarck (video assistant)
Kimon Keramidas (assistant technical director)
Peter Kerlin (video researcher and assistant)
Ernesto Klar (production assistant)
Cheuk Yan ‘Spider’ Kwok (video assistant)
Steve Luber (Prologue Dramaturg and research associate)
Ela Orleans (stage manager)
Michelle Phillips (costume design assistant)
Kate Richards (project documentarist)
Isis Saratial Misdary (associate assistant director)
Josh Schmidt (sound assistant)
Harry Sinclair (performer)
Kevin Slavin (demographics consultant)
Kate Stannard (assistant director)
Gabriele Voerhinger (production assistant)

Many thanks for their essential contributions toward the development of SUPER VISION.

Super Vision was created with the support, commitment, and artistry of the entire dbox team: Mark Bannister, Mark Bodal, Keith Bomely, Scott Davison, Jonathan Doyle, Mark Gleghorn, Jessica Haas, Christa Hamilton, Uken Huang, Kim Hyunsuk, David Jaubert, Gloria Kim, Lisa Kim, Kayako Kobayashi, Tang Ku, Ai Le, Marc Lin, Alex Martin, Gina Matsui, Clark Nelson, Michele Orosz, Martin Solarte, Peter Wildman, Daniel Yao, Phillis Yeh. Thanks especially to Ivor Ip for his ongoing involvement.

Lead Co-Producer
Wexner Center for the Arts in association with the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design at the Ohio State University

Co-Producers
Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, MN), with additional support for final technical development
Montclair State University: Office of Arts & Cultural Programming
Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis
Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008
New Zealand International Arts Festival
BAM Next Wave Festival
Residency support provided by The Kitchen and Arts at St. Ann’s