About

KAFKA FRAGMENTS, 2005

Suite of 40 images

16 x 20

Epson UltraChrome on Hahnemuhle paper

In the fall of 2004, I was laying the groundwork for what would be a residency at the Bridge Inc., a day-home for people living with severe and debilitating mental illness. I spent several hours a week becoming familiar with the surroundings, getting to know doctors and resident patients and also attending a weekly on-site poetry group. During this time, I was working on a seperate project that was making use of the Blue Octavo Notebooks — aphoristic lines drawn from Kafka’s letters and diaries. I introduced the book to members of the Bridge poetry workshop where it was read aloud and discussed. Eventually, the group and I began to stage and photograph scenes and tableaus inspired by 40 of the fragments. The project, which involved four months of intensive work.

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The image sequences were used as part of a production of Gyorgy Kurtag’s “Kafka Fragments".” which was directed by Peter Sellars and produced by Carnegie Hall. It received its premiere on 10 January 2005 in Zankel Hall. This revival of this “Kafka Fragments” production was commissioned by the Barbican Centre, KVS Theater and Romaeuropa.

KAFKA FRAGMENTS, Gyorgy Kurtag

Dawn Upshaw soprano 

Geoff Nuttall violin

David Michalek -  projected cine roman

Anna Kiraly - costume design 

James F. Ingalls -  lighting design 

Diane J. Malecki -  producer