Dani Marti Mariposa (Butterfly)
BREENSPACE Until 20 October By Naomi Gall
Notions of mortality, sensuality and intimacy are prevalent in Dani Marti’s solo exhibition Mariposa (Butterfly). The central video work, Butterfly Man, profiles Mark, a man whom the artist originally met over the internet and caught up with in New York two years ago. Marti was recently in New York again on a residency and saw Mark, this time noticing a remarkable alteration to his appearance. As a result of his crystal meth addiction, Mark had lost a lot of weight and had missing teeth. Butterfly Man depicts Mark flagging, a dance form in which the performer waves scarves, fabric or flags around and alongside their body, creating sensual, beautiful movements.
According to Marti the video “deals with intimacy, emotions, people, exchange and the ethics of that exchange,” with the work depicting Mark during two phases, six weeks apart. The difference is startling, with his body’s deterioration clearly evident. “For him it was like confronting his own death,” the artist comments. “Through the video there is a sense of time going by… it’s very involving but at the same time it pushes the viewer away with that reality.”
Accompanying Butterfly Man are two woven wall works, TRAP and ARMOUR. The artist says there is no direct relationship between these pieces and the video but that “they do feed each other”. TRAP uses an aluminium frame woven with leather at front and back, creating two grids with space between. There are no knots in the work, with only the tension holding it together, while ARMOUR features ropes with the ends pushed out of the frame.
Asked if establishing a bond with the subjects of his work is more a hindrance than a help, Marti comments that his most successful projects are “when I get involved emotionally and physically with the subject.” Ultimately, the artist strives to confront and challenge his audience through his brutally honest and emotionally compelling work.