Primal Matter - the entire work in seventeen minutes

Primal Matter - the entire work in seventeen minutes

Primal Matter, the entire work in seventeen minutes, is a condensed cinematic summary of Dimitris Papaioannou’s original production, Primal Matter, presented in 2013 at the Athens Festival. Originally spanning one hour and fifteen minutes, this live performance featured Dimitris Papaioannou and Michalis Theophanous and was filmed by Stefanos Sitaras and edited by Dimitris Papaioannou. Primal Matter is Dimitris Papaioannou’s personal response to a new political, social, and ethical reality, where issues of national identity are re-interpreted. The challenge that lies ahead is how to face a wounded national identity, the trauma continues, but so does the resistance of creativity. Papaioannou employs the simplest means, the body itself. Primal Matter offers a universal language of decoding, and a shortcut to the truth – the fusion of the two bodies through optical illusions is a fusion of attitudes, of identities and a struggle between the matter and the mind, the shadow and the light, the creator and its creation

Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Dimitris Papaioannou
Script: Dimitris Papaioannou
Cinematography: Stefanos Sitaras
Editing: Dimitris Papaioannou
Sound: Kostas Michopoulos
Production: Dimitris Papaioannou, 2Works
Producers: Dimitris Papaioannou, Tina Papanikolaou
Format: DCP
Color: Color
Production Country: Greece
Production Year: 2016
Duration: 17'
Contact: Julian Mommert (julian@dimitrispapaioannou.com)

Dimitris Papaioannou

Dimitris Papaioannou, the first Greek performing artist to penetrate the international art scene as an auteur, has seen his creations co-produced and commissioned internationally. He is considered “one of the four most important choreographers in the world” (Le Figaro), “a masterful theatrical magician and imagist” (The Times), and “the most original choreographer of our time” (La Repubblica). His works have traveled four continents, reaching over 30 countries and 50 cities. His first internationally co-produced work, The Great Tamer (2017), was commissioned by the Avignon Festival. He was the first artist to create a work for the Tanztheater Wuppertal after the death of Pina Bausch, followed by Transverse Orientation (2021) and his latest work, INK (2020). Papaioannou’s body of work spans from minimal resources, like Primal Matter (2012), to large-scale productions, like the Athens 2004 – Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games. He is the first Greek artist to receive the European Theater Prize (2017) and has been nominated for the Emmy Award (2016) and the Olivier Award (2019 and 2022). Born in Athens in 1964, he was a student of the iconic Greek painter Yannis Tsarouchis before transitioning to performing arts as a director, choreographer, performer, and designer of sets, costumes, makeup, and lighting.

Filmography

2016 Primal Matter
2021 Nowhere