Uroboros

JOHN STURGEON

Uroboros

video/sculptural installation

created for a solo exhibition at the

L.A. Louver Gallery, Venice, CA

accompanying color video, 10:00 minutes, sound

The installation of a large, free hanging table of gray clay, with a human figure cut-out, shell and goblet dinner setting forms the set for a single channel video. Key elements of the video imagery are iconically brought into the space of the installation.

Video:

Uroboros revolves around a mandala metaphor, a mythological snake that devours itself, tail first, symbolizing the unity and continuance of opposites. The male (Sturgeon) follows the elusive female image (Quinn), repeatedly descending an ancient spiral stair, as if to the bowels of some primal psyche, where elemental healings and unifying rites are performed. Rhythmic cycles, luscious color and gripping drama unfold in strikingly composed scenes, as we participate as fellow - 'fishermen of the circle.'

additional performer: Aysha Quinn

Through his performances and videotapes, John Sturgeon has developed a personal language system that explores the relationship between opposites: left side/right side, rational/intuitive, abstract/symbolic, mental/physical. He uses the human body in both ritualistic and mythic motions as a tool to explore that which is usually not expressible verbally.

Video Data Bank - video tape review

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

TEXT:

Since the beginning,

we have gone to sea.

Since it began,

we have searched the sea.

Quests won or lost,

our lives come and go.

We continue.

Some become divers,

others less of more.

The mind spears the catch.

We are fishermen of the circle -

Uroboros.

John Sturgeon, 1979

Reference:

The Uroboros installation was the featured piece in a solo exhibition at the L.A. Louver Gallery (April-May 1979), which also included drawings, photo-collages, performance sketches and documentation and other single channel video tapes. Uroboros was subsequently distributed as a single channel video.

Uroboros also formed the conceptual basis of Sturgeon’s solo PBS (WILL, Champaign, IL) television simulcast performance, with text and accompanying dancers, at the Krannert Art Center, University of Illinois, 1979.

Components:

10 min. single channel color video, frenal spot with violet gel, fishnet canopy with 4" hook, suspended gray clay tabletop with body cut-out, scrim, 2 goblets, 2 abalone shells, mirror, and white flour floor.

JOHN STURGEON

Uroboros

a television simulcast* - performance

channel WILL, Champaign, Illinois

created for the School of Fine Arts

University of Illinois, Krannert Art Center

color, 30:00 minutes, sound, with: dancers

Uroboros revolves around a mandala metaphor, a mythological snake that devours itself, tail first, symbolizing the unity and continuance of opposites. A mythic, circling dance - the reptilian transformation into two dancers (male & female), encircle a performer of ritualistic activities and poetic incantation - as he ascends/descends a ladder, as if to and from the bowels of some primal psyche, where elemental healings and unifying rites of consciousness are performed.

Through his performances and videotapes, John Sturgeon has developed a personal language system that explores the relationship between opposites: left side/right side, rational/intuitive, abstract/symbolic, mental/physical. He uses the human body in both ritualistic and mythic motions as a tool to explore that which is usually not expressible verbally.

Video Data Bank - video tape review

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Reference: Uroboros was distributed as a single channel video tape.

Uroboros was originally created for a video installation in a solo exhibition at the L.A. Louver Gallery (April-May, 1979), which also included drawings, photo-collages, performance sketches and documentation and other single channel video tapes.

* (The document of the television simulcast of the performance was technically flawed during recording. Only a brief fragment from the video of the evening's broadcast remains.)