SOMATIC, SONIC, SCENIC MEDITATIONS
“Healing Machine” 2019-Present
“Healing Machine” is a growing network of healing bodies, voices, scripts, and devices that send, store, and receive healing qualities with an archive of narratives on resilience turns and healthcare twists. One of these devices is a candy-vending machine that dispenses sweet healing scripts, plays grounding meditations, and shares and collects survival tricks. Playful in its delivery but biting in its critique, this “machine” is very different than its biomedical counterparts. Rejuvenating the body, repurposing everyday objects for healing, and performing individual and collective therapeutic rituals are the core components of the project. “Healing Machine” was recently presented at the “Sick Time, Sleepy Time, Crip Time: Against Capitalism’s Temporal Bullying” exhibition curated by Taraneh Fazeli at Redbull House for the Arts in Detroit.
“Are We On the Same Wavelength?” 2017
“Are We On the Same Wavelength?” is an interactive multimedia labor performance of experiential poetry, real-time weaving, and communal eating by Ava Ansari and Levon Kafafian. The work transforms “Good Lab” art space into a ceremonial gathering of cosmic connection to the historical, personal, and collective journeys and myths of weaving as a method for connecting all creations in all times and spaces. The piece was presented as a part of the Fringe Society’s Stitching Hours in Detroit.
“Broken Wings!” 2017
“Broken Wings” is a process-based poem and institutional critique that was situated at “The Ascension” performance by Christopher Gideon in the form of spoken words. It demands athletics and artists to rise up against the instrumentalization of art as a marketing tool for selling capitalist products and experiences that celebrate modern slavery including energy drinks. “Broken Wings,” asks us to wash off the heavy capitalist notions of time and ableism from our broken wings.
“How to Create a Bouquet in a Voting Box?” 2012, 2016
“How to Create a Bouquet in a Voting Box?” is an ongoing series of meditative performances, conversations, and spoken words on delicacy that takes place on every presidential election day in the US and Iran. The results of the daylong collective creations are unconventional flower arrangements placed in voting boxes and memories of delicate togetherness over hard converse.
“Freeway: Little Syria” 2015
“Freeway: Little Syria” was a public parade situated as a part of the special project “Freeway” by Ava Ansari in the Armory Show: MENAM. A collaboration with Brian Zegeer that aimed to protect the remaining tangible heritage and memories of the vanished neighborhood in the Lower West Side of Manhattan.
“Body without Organ” 2014-Present
“Body Without Organ” started with a bi-locational sculptural performance and collaboration between Ava Ansari and Mona Aghababaee between New York, Detroit, and Isfahan. It has continued as public plays, interpersonal somatic meditations, and yoga practice over the course of many years between the two over the internet.
“Pryings” 2012
“Pryings” is a 20 min performance of exhaustion and full-length reenactment of Vito Acconci's “Pryings 1971.” It questions the female representation in the avant-garde male era of the 70s and further acts as a form of a witness for Ava’ Ansari’s objections towards her own former marriage and partner who shoot the film and witnessed the exhaustion.
“Close Proximity” 2012
“Close Proximity” was a live camera performance of synergic violence that explored the boundaries of public and personal pain in face to face and mediated manners. During the performance, Ava Ansari explored her body with two cameras connected to her as extensional parts of her body, one as her third-eye and one as her right hand’s palm. Through meticulously timed and choreographed angles Ava used each camera to compose and layer visual narratives that were projected on the wall of the AC Institute, NYC. The piece was created with Marco Pinter.
“Dancing by Myself in Public” 2011
“Dancing By Myself in Public” was a public performance of liberation that took place at the Time Square Subway Station in NYC as a response to the norms and laws that regulate public movement in the US and Iran. The piece led to the creation of “Subway“ project.
“Floral Mediations” 2006-Present
“Floral Meditations” is an ongoing practice of floral design and living installation making by Ava Ansari that has continued through her moves from Tehran to Dubai to New York City to Detroit. Ava creates floral arrangements as somatic meditations on divine patience and beauty. She works with flowers as mediums for connecting to the forgotten networks of cosmic creation.