1. Aria (11 months old) is being bathed by her mother, Georgiana (30),
2. Lena (26), Gabriel (35), Lala (38), Maria (26), Alec (50), Alina (34), Adriana (47), Cristina (39), Ema (34) are washing their faces
3. Gheorghe (93) is being bathed by his son, Ionel (66)

The video installation proposes a precise visual and generational path, strongly influenced by its author’s film upbringing. At the fluid boundary between fragility and precariousness, the motif of the body being washed by another body goes beyond exotic portrayals. It reappears in a hyper-realistic manner, in a realm of need and care. The relationship of trust between the washer and the one being washed is materialised in the natural performativity of the movements of the four bodies-in-pairs, highlighted by the synchronicity of the details on the faces, hands or backs of the characters at the beginning and, respectively at the end of their lives.

The central mirror reflects in an opposing way the choreographed, rigid performativity of a daily gesture – washing one’s face. The freedom of the bodies to choose their manner of interaction with water dilutes the participants’ emotions, and the care shown to oneself acquires planned-playful, careless or histrionic aspects.

Via this experimental documentary, the author offers onlookers an exercise in contemplation and invites them to become aware of how the transition between being washed and washing oneself indicates their positioning in certain stages of life. 

The video installation was part of On river, flow, streams exhibition at Rezidența BRD in 2024.

Text by Maria Bîrsan, curator.