8ROJO are at the Fringe with The Lost Hours, a solo show with a difference – the experimental performance is based on the last moments of Salvador Dali and is performed for an audience of one person at a time.
So as an introduction, who are 8ROJO?
We are a group of Canadian interdisciplinary artists who devise performances by using imagery and movement. Our creations deal with themes that aim to be challenging, relevant and profound for both artists and audiences alike. We have performed across western Canada, and as far afield as Mexico, the Czech Republic and now Sweden with The Lost Hours.
You describe The Lost Hours as a “visual fantasy for one audience member at a time”. So from the point of view of an audience member experiencing the show, what is the set-up here?
Imagine being alone at an art gallery. Suddenly, the pieces around you come to life to tell their stories through movement. This exemplifies 8ROJO creations; a combination of images in motion and symbols that communicate the themes through an up-close multisensory experience. We develop interactive environments with fantastic characters and dream-like settings, in order to establish a connection with the audience through imagination.
Is it a more interesting challenge to do a show focused on one audience member, rather than a larger crowd?
When attending a live performance, there is an assumption we will experience the presentation within a collective setting. A performance developed for one audience member creates a special bond between the artists and the spectator. For the audience, the performance becomes an intimate and personal journey which allows for emotional and intellectual freedom. It gives them the liberty to appreciate the piece from a deeply personal level, without judgement or restrictions. The idea of attending a performance without other audience members may sound intimidating; we have found that individuals who have experienced The Lost Hours through workshops and rehearsals appreciate having a unique way to be involved in the piece.
What drew you into Salvador and Ana María Dalí’s relationship as a focus point for the piece?
The piece poses the question: ‘What if our memories before death were those of our childhood?’
When Salvador Dalí joined the Surrealist movement, it created irreparable damage with his family. The Dalí family values didn’t align with Salvador’s new lifestyle. Ana María was Salvador’s only sibling and their strong relationship was broken as Salvador became one of the most acclaimed artists of our time. Salvador succeeded in stopping publishers from taking interest in Ana María’s childhood memoirs. The siblings never had a final meeting before Salvador passed away. 8ROJO gathered this information and imagined that Salvador’s final visions, right before passing away, could have been memories of his early days blended with images inspired by his renowned artistry. A limbo of symbols that helps the siblings reconcile before the inevitable.
